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Les diagrammes suivants illustrent la mAthode. \ 1 i 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 ■ I THE HISTORY OF GREENLAND : INCLUDING AN ACCOUNT OF THE MISSION CARRIID ON BY THE UNITED BRETHREN IN THAT COUNTRY. FROM THE GERMAN OF DAVID CRANTZ. WITH A CONTINUATION TO THE PRESENT TIME; ILLUSTRATIVE NOTES; AND AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING A, SKETCH OF THE MISSION OF THE BRETHREN IN LABRADOR. Give me a theme to gnce an Angel's tongue, A theme to which a lyre was never strung. Barbarian hordes, by Satan's craft enthraii'd, TFwok duuns to medom, guilt to glory call'd ; The deeds of men, unfriended and unknown. Sent forth by Him who loves and saies his own. With ftithftd tott a barren land to bless, And feed his flocks amidst the wiklemess. MONTOOMEBT, MS. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. IL LONDON: PRINTED FOR LONGMAN, HURST, REES, ORME, AND BROWN, — •' ^ ' • rATERNOSTKK vJ.l. • r MMMM NORTHERN AFFAIRS & NATIONAL RESOURCES MAP 4 195i' Northern Affsirs Libraiy }: IVinted \bij Smban and Spottitwruodf . FHnt0n>Sti«ct, Loikbn. VV CONTENTS 01 THE SECOND VOLUME. CHAPTER I. From 17SS to 1740. —Brief hiitorical Sketch of the Church of iSt^' Brethren. — Circumstances which led to Missionary Undertakings. — Departure of the three first Missionaries to Greenland. -^ Their Reception at CopenhMen. — Voyage and Arrival in Greenland. >~ Their Reflections en their Prospects there. — Primary Difficultiet. -.Attack of the Small-Pox. — 1734. —- Wretched Condition of the Savages. — Arrival of two new Missionaries. — 17Si6. — Con- tinued Labours of the Missionaries. — Visits made to them by the Heathens. — Solemn Enffasement of the Brethren. — Then: Want of the Necessaries of Lira. — Their Sentiments under Po- vertVy Contempt, external Weakness, and internal Pressures. —17S6. — Fpevidentifu Supplies. — Increase of their Family. — Mr. Egede returns to Europe with Christian Stach. — Instance of a Heathen derirous to be eonverted. — 17S7* — Return of Christian Stadi with a new Assistant. — Failure of Supplies from Holland. — Accidents at Sea. — Discouraging Want of Success. ^- Residence of four Weeks amount the Savages. — 1788. — A Greenlander consents to stay with Uie Missionaries. — Kajamak is awakened, and believes the Gospel. — Results of his Conversion. — 1739. — A severe Famine drives the Natives to the Brediren. — They become more desirous of Instruction. — Bi^tism of the first four Greenlanders. — Flight of Kajamak - - - - • Page 1 CHAP. II. From 1740 to 1747* — Change of System in the Conduct of the Mis- sion. — Visitation. — The Natives withdraw in Spring. -—• Return of A 2 IV CONTENTS. V Kajarnak, with other exhilarating Occurrences. — Useful Services of the new Converts. — 1 741 — Death of Kajarnak. — Visits to the y . Natives. — Good Understanding subsisting between the Brethren and the Danish Missionaries. — 1742. — Matthew Stach returns from Germany. — A Missionary lost on his Voyage. — Success at- tending the preaching of the Gospel. — Imperfections of the Be- lievers. — A new Increase of awakened Greenlanders. — 1743. — Appearances of a general awakening in the District of Baal's River. — Singular Dream of an An^ekok. — Annuid Dispersion of the believing Flock. — Fatal Accident. — Winter Residence with the Missionaries. — Meetings for religious Worship. — Various Dangers and Deliverances. — 1744. — Extension of the Gospel. — Plot of a Band of Murderers defeated. — Arrangements for the Summer. — Exclusion and Re-admission. — Christmas. — 1745. — Spiritual Course of the believing Flock. — The Missionary Boehnisch returns from a Visit to Germany. — Casualties. — 1746. — Oppo- sition of the Aneekoks. — Excursion to hunt Rein-deer. — Arrival of the Missionaries, Soerensen and Boernikd • Page 58 CHAP. III. I From 1747 to 1751. — Progress of the Gospel. — Introduction of the Holy Communion. — Erection of a new Church. — Division of the Congregation into Companies. — Institution of a Singing School. — 1748. — Benighted State of the Heathen Greenlanders. — Hazardous Joumies, and Instances of the Divine Protection. — Entrance into • the New Year.— Rescue of a Woman out of the Hands of the Na- tives. -— Return of Christian David to Europe. — 1749. — Arrival of Southlanders. — Kajarnak's Brother is awakened. — Celebration of Easter. — Return of Matthew Stach with the Greenlanders after their Visit in Europe.— Some Account of their Journey. — Arrange- ments concerning Single Women. — Murder of Nathan. — 1750. —Keen Frost, ahd conseauent Distress. — Visits of the Natives.- Transfer of the Greenland Trade to the Company of Merchants. — New Regulations. — Remarkable Occurrence in the Life of a Female Greenlander. — 1751. — Blessed State of the Mission. —Willocks. — Arrival of the Missionary Beck. —Casualties and Disorder during the Herring Fishery. — Death of Mrs. Drachart. — Resignation of Mr. Drachart. — Cordiality between the Brethren and the Danish Missionaries - - - . - - 95 CHAP. IV. From 1752 to 1758. — Bishop de Watteville holds a Visitation in Greenland. — His Voyage. — Extraordinary Severity of the Winter. — Particulars of his Visit. — Ravages occasioned by a contagious Disorder. — Obituary. — 1753. — Visits in Kangek. — History of Kainaek. — Journey of two Native Assistants to the North. — Sin- CONTENTS. V guUur Adventure of a Greenlander. — 1754. — Infection commu- nicated by some Whaleri in the Harbour, which iwept away thirty- icven Person!. — Celebration of Caster. — Conclusion of the Year. 1756. — Consolatory Reflections. — Famine. — Triumphs of the Gospel. — 1757. —Visits to Kangek. — Miscellaneous Occurrences. — Benevolent Influence of the Gospel.— Declarations of the Green- landers .... - Page 124 CHAP. V. From 1758 to 1768. — Exhaustion of some Sources of Increase to the Congregation.— Reasons for the Establishment of a new Settle- ment. — Preparatory Occurrences.— Matthew Stach and Joens, and Peter Haven, receive an Appointment to settle the new Con- oregation. — Their Journejr. and Arrival at New Hermhut.-— They sul with several Families to Fisher's Inlet. — Choose a suit- able Place for Building.— DiiRculties and providential Supply.^ They receive Visits from the Greenlanders, and regulate the Afikirs ■ of the Settlement.— Increase of the Congregation at New Hermhut. — Life of a converted Female Native.— > 1 759.— Many Natives visit New Hermhut.— False Alarm.— Arrival of a new Missionary.- Occurrences at Lichtenfels. —Perilous Escapes. — Storms. — 1760. — Famine among the Greenlanders.- They are visited.— Success of the Missionaries.- Death of Count Zinzendorf. — Increase of the Congregation at Lichtenfels. — State of the Congrefration at New Herrnhut.— Specimens of Discourses held by National As- sistants. — 1761. — Arrival of Brother Boehnisch. — Arrival of Southlanders. — Visit of John Soerensen in Kangek, with its Re- sults. — Labours of the Brethren at Lichtenfels. — A new Chapel is erected there. — Its Dedication. -^ Severe Cold and Famine.— 1762.— -The Heathen are visited by the Brethren in Lichtenfels. —Visitors at Lichtenfels.— Sta'i of the Children in that Con- gregation. — External Employmer^t jf the Missionaries. — Visits of the Brethren in New Hermhut. — iMew Converts. — Success of the Greenlanders in hunting and Ashing...— Epidemic in the Sound. — Death of the Greenlander, Daniel.— A brief Account of his Life 148 CHAP. VL Reasons for adding this Chapter. — Situation and Description of New Hermhut. 7- Situation and.Description of Lichtenfels. — Domestic Arrangements. — Women's Boats. — Difference between the Hea- then and baptized Greenlanders. — Visiting the Greenlanders. — Their Property. — Capelin Fishery. — Widows and Orphans. — Order in the Congregation, and Beneficence of its Inhabitants. — Education of Children. — Generosity of the Greenlanders. — The Labours, Support, Ilousukucping, &u. of the Missionaries. — Collec- VI contents;- Uonfor the MiMiona.— B«nen»l«iice of Friends of the Brethren. — National AMutanti. — Auembliei for Derotlonin the Congre- fation, Schoola, Sermons, Ac, — Sin^ng oi the Oreenlanden. — *urport of the Discourses, Catechizations, Ac. of the Brethren.— Their Method of Teaching. — Doctrinal Knowledge of the Green- landers. — Baptisms. — Holy Communion. — . Marriases of the Greenlandcrs. — Their Sicknesses, Death, and Buriah — Schools for the Greenland Children. — Concluding Remark. — Some Letters of believing Greenlanders • - Page 901 CHAP. vn. CONTINUATION OF THl HISTORY. Introducto^ Remarks. — The Narrative is continued. — Death of Brother Boehnisch.— Heathen Greenlanders, Fidieriss, Casualties. — History of Liditenfels. — National Assistants. -> Changes among the Missionaries. — State of New Herrnhut. — South Storms. — E> cape of a Missionary from Danger.— -Scarcity at Lichtenfels.— Happy Course of that Conjipregation.— Voyage of Matthew Stack. — Snow.— 'Diseases, Accidents, and Deaths.— Visitors at New Herrnhut.— Kassiak.— Arrival of Missionaries. - Increase of the Congregation. — Changes' in the Colonies. — Death of Frederic Vth.— Visitors at Lichtenfels. — Remarkable awakening at New Herrnhut*— Tokko. — Immenek. — Rapid Increase of the Consre- gation. — Return of Henry Huekel.— Awakening at Lichtenfels. Visits of the Brethren. — Firewood. — Accidents and Deaths.— Death of Matthew Stach. — Appointment of a general Superintend- ant.— A third Settlement established at Lichtenau. — Out-Places. — Epidemic. — Progress of the different Settlements. — Visits from the £a8t Coast. — Singular Elopements of several Greenlanders. — Dangers of the Missionaries and Natives. — Voyages of the Bre- thren Grillich and Rudolph. — • Scarcity of Provisions. — > Vovage of Brother Kleinschmidt. — Greenlandic New Testament. — Hard Winters. — Accident at Kangek. — Conclusion - 232 APPENDIX. Narrative of the First Settlement made by the United Brethren on the Coast of Labrador, with a brief View of the Progress of the Mission .----. 287 Il' THE HISTORY Of GREENLAND. CHAPTER I. From 1733 to 1740. -^ Bri^ historical Sketch of the Church of the Brethren, — Cireunuiance* which led to Missionar^f Undertalnngt, -~ Departure of the three Jirst Missionaries to Greenland. — Their Reception at Copenhagen. •— Vot^age and Arrival in Greenland. Thetr Re/lections on their Prospects there* — Primarif Difficulties, -^jlttaek of the Small-Pos.-^ 17$^. — Wretched Condition qf the Savages. ■— Arrival of two new Missionaries. — 1735. — Con- tinued Labours qf the Missionaries. — Visits made to them Ay ike Heathens. •— Solemn Engagement of the Brethren. •— Their want qf the Necessaries qf Life. — Their Sentiments under Po- vertUi Contempt, external IVeakness, and internal Pressures. — 1736. •— Providential Supplies. — Increase qf their Family. — Mr. Egede returns to Europe wUh Christian Stach, — Instance of a Heathen desiroks to be converted. •— \*J2>1.-^ Return qf Christian Stach with a tiew Assistant. -— Failure qf Supplies from Holland.'^ Accidents at Sea. -^Discouraging warU qf Success, — Residence of four Weeks amonnt the Savages.— '1738. — A Greenlander consents to stay with the Missionaries. — Kajamak is awakened, and believes the Gospd. — Results qf his Conversion. — • 1739. — A severe Famine drives the Natives to the Brethren. — Theu become more desirous qf Instruction. — Baptism of the first four Ureenlanders. — Flight of Kajamak. I HE present church of the United Brethren traces its origin to the ancient Bohemian church, known under the same appellation, \v})ich was founded in the middle of the fifteenth century by those persecuted Bohemians VOL. II. ' B * SKETCH OP THK and Waldenses who were determined to resist the tem- poral encroachments and spiritual errors of the Papal Sec. Watered by the blood of its martyrs, John Huss and Jerome of Praf^ue, and deriving its episcopal ordination from the Waldensian bishops, it long mam- tained the Christian faith in purity, and spread itself in numerous flourishing branches through Poland and Moravia. But the unremitted violence of its adver- saries, and the opposition of the secular power, at length reduced it to a languishing condition ; and a/ler having been once snatched from the brink of ruin by the timely assistance of the Church of England *, itap- * For a detailed account of the oppreuiona cxcrciicd against the ancient Bohemian and Moravian church, see Crantz't History of the Brethren^ and Risler's Select Narratives. At the bexinning of the eighteenth century, the deplorable condition of the Protestant cpii> copal church in Poland was well known in England, and an order of the privy-council was issued, March 10th, 1715,/' for their relief* and for preserving the remainder of the xnid episcopal diurches in Great Poland and Polish Prussia." Among the multitude of nobles and clergy driven from their native country in the reign of Ferdinand II., was John Amos Comenius {Kotnensky) who was minister of the Brethren at Fulneck in Moravia, from 1618 to 1627. In his exile, he wrote a compendious history of the Bohemian Brethren, to which he prefixed an Address to the Church of England^ dedicating this book as hii laat will and testament to that church, to use it according to their own pleasure, and preserve it as a deposit for the posterity of the Brethren ; ** should God produc*, (as he writes in the Dedicatory Addresst) even out of these concussions, that which is better than we all can think : to wit, as he hath promiKed, that the f o«pel may at last pass away from sharply chastised Christendom to the other natrons of the world ; that so as il was long ago, our stumbling may be the enriching of the world, and our diminishing the riches of the Gentiles. Rom. xi. 12. *' The consideration of this so-much-tO'be-admired eternal pro- vidence, doth greatly allay the grief which I have taken by reason of the ruin of the church of my native country ; of the government of which, so long as she kept her station, the laws are here described, and set forth in view. Even myself, alas ! being the very last super- intendent of all, (senior bishop or president of the synod,) am fain before your eyes, O churches ! to shut the door afVer me. *< But yet I would not have these things to be so taken, as if, in my solitude, and bv my departure hence, I feared or foretold the final end of the church 'n my country. I know that the hurch, being founded upon the rock of eternity, cannot fail, viz. the Catholic. And yet examples testify, that particular churches are sometimes overthrown I ■ CHlJUCft OF THE BRETHREN. ^ peared to be totnlly extinct in tlic beginning of tlio eighteenth century. At that critical period, however, it pleased God suddenly to revivify the dying flame. A number of Moravian emigrants formed a new 8e*»le- ment at Herrnhut in Upper Lusatia in 17«2, where they revived the ccclet^iastical institutions and disci- pline of their ancestors, and united in a solemn cove- nant to follow Christ as their Head and Master, even under contempt, persecutions, and death. This renovated church began at an early period to turn its attention to the deplorable state of the Heathen world, deeply sensibly of the duty under which it lay. by the Imnd of an anj^ry God ; that according to hk good pleasui^,. others may be planted, or else the same elsewhere. *' This I, with full trurt, expectmcc from the everlasting goodness, (if notwithstanding, God should cull me to depart out or this life without present comfort,) will say with the last of these seven Mae- cabean Brethren martyrM, Let the anger of the Omnipotent, v^ich it come upon our generation for our siust rest upon me, (or cease in me, ) and mtf brethren. 2Mac. vii.38. *< But to you, Friends, afttf.- the example of our eternal Master, we commend our well-beloved Mother, the Church. Take you now the care hereof in our rooms, whatever it shall please God to do unto her, whether to restore her amongst us, or, when she is decensedathooie, to raise her to life elsewhere. You have just cause Indeed to love her, even when dead, who whilst yet living, went before you* in good ex- amples of faith and patience, even now unto the third generation. ** God himself* when he took away and laid waste his people's land, city, and temple, because of their unthonkfulness for his blessings, would still have the basis of the altar to be left in its place, upon which after ages, when they should be returned to themselves and to God, might build again. If then, by the grace of God, there Itath been found in us, as wise men and godly have sometimes thought, any thing true, any thing honourable, any thins; just, any thing pure, any thing to be loved, and of good report, and. if anv virtue and any praise, care must be taken that it die not with us when we die ; and, at least, that the very foundation he not buried in the rubbish of present ruins, so that the generation to come should not be able to tell where to find them. And indeed, this care is taken, and pro- vision is made on this behalf, by this our trust confided to your hands.*' An English translation of this book was published in 1661 , and the original Latin was reprinted in London in 1710. ,^jj *>. CAUSfi or MISSIONAHY UNDERTAKINGS. to carry forth the li^ht of the gospel, and, in reliance on the Divine Providence, endeavour to dispel some portion of that gross darkness which • cpvered the nations. Afler maturely considering this important object, it sent out its missionaries in simplicity and lowliness, poorly supplied, indeed, with externals, but armed with a lively zeal, and an intense strength of faith. The seed which they were favoured to sow, grew mightily by the, blessing of God, and pros- pered, till after the silept l^t ^ost persevering labours of many y^^f^. jts pro^nc^, fille4 the wilder- ness with its fragrance, and gladdened the desert places of the earth with its beauty. There could not well be imagined an «pter emblem of the Brethren's missions, than the grain of mustard seed, which ** grew and waxed a great tree $ and the fowls of the air lodged in its branches." From very small beginnings, an assembly of a^out six hundred poor exiles, did this great work commence in hope, and the several flour- ishing settlements in various parts of the globe now testify, that the strength of the I^ord has ^ccpmpanif d the weak endeavours of his servants, that the race is not always to the swif^, nor the battle to the strong, and that the feeblest instruments are sometimes ma^e nse of to perform the most signal exploits in extending the kingdon^ of the Cross. Nicholas Lewis, Count Zinzendorf, a German noble- man, equally distinguished by original genius, learn- ing, and piety, was the first promoter of missionary un- dertakings among tiie Brethren. An earnest desire to be instrumental in spreading the Word of Life among foreign nations, hud taken possession of his mind dur- ing the coarse of his university studies, but was not called into exercise till the year 1731, when he attended at the coronation of Christian VL, at Copenhagen. In that city he met with two Greenlanders who bi^d been bjaptized by the venerable Mr. Egede, and learned with pain that the mission to Greenland was to be relinquished. His domestics also conversed with a, bap- *•—' negro from St. Thomas, who earnestly entreated tized DZPAATUltE Of, FIJIST MISSIONARIES. 9 tMmt ChHiiftiah mimjihihiei mi^Ht bi^ s^nt t^ his eiii- sJuvdd coUtitfyriien. He Aj^earcld peculiarly interested In tlie fkte of his sistet*, v(rhoih he had left behind, in that islahdi and who, as he said, fVequently besought the great God to send some one who mi^hc show her the way to Him. The Count afforded him an opportunity of stating his ca^e in a public meeting of the Brethren at Herrnhut, where his representations and entreaties proved so effectual, that two of those present, Leonard Dober and one of his confidential friends, offered to go St. Thomas, though under the persuasion that th6y ^ould be obliged to sell themselves for slaves in order to gain access to the negroes. They set sail August 21st, i7SS, ten years after the building of Herrnhut, when the coni^regation consisted of no niiore than six hundred poor eitiles, including women and children. At the same time the plan of H mission to Green- land wns' also agitatcid. As thsit country was under the Dan isli government, which was very friendly to the Brethren, it appeared to them the more eligible for the establishment of a mission ; and the forlorn state of the poor natives, who had already received Christian in- struction from Mr. Egcfde, loudly called upon their compassion. Matthew Stach and Frederic Boehnisch, two young men, being at work together in prepaf-ing a piece of ground for a burial-place at Herrnhut, in the course of conversation, found that they had both, un- known to each other, ibrmed the desire of going as mis- sionaries to Greenland. They therefore proposed them- selves for this service; but the delay of a year intervening, before their offer was accepted, and Boehnisch having, meanwhile, undertaken a considerable journey, Chris- tian Stach consented to accompany his cousin. These two missioharres, along with Christian David, the prin- cipal agent in the Moravian emigration, who intended to return to Europe after the settlement of a mission, set out from Herrnhut, Jan. 19th, lySS, attended with nuifibe^les^ gbod wishes from their Brethren. Th^ Cid^gi'egation which \fra8 as yet totally inex- perienced in missionary affafrs, could give ihem no in- B 8 n R&C&PTION AT COPANHAGEN- stnictions. Tbcy were but th|^ second company ^he had to make the untried experiment, whether the hea- then would receive the message of pea^ce frpm their Creator and Redeemer, and were thei^cjfore leil to act in every circumstance as the Lord and his Spirit should . lead them. It was only suggested that they should cherish an affectionate bjotherly love $ that they jihould respect the venerable Christian David, as a fa- ttier, and profit by his advice ; and that they should of- fer themselves as assistants to that long-tried Apostle of the Greenlanders, Mr. Egede, but if he did not want their help, they should by no means interfere in his labours. . With scarcely any provision for their journey beyond tlie most necessary articles of clothing, our missionaries travelled by Way of Hamburgh, to the Danish capital. Here they met with a kind reception from i^roR^ssor Ewald, member of the College of Missiona, and\ M. Reuss, his Majesty's chaplatn, and from several other friends to whom they had been recommended. Their intention of going to Greenland could not, however, but be regarded as a visionary scheme, particulary while the fate of the Danish mission at Goahaab was yet in suspense. But tbey took little notice of these gloomy forebodings, and cast their confidence on Him, who, as they believed, had called them to the work, and Wfould support tlKjm in the prosecution of it. They learned shortly after that his Majesty had granted leave for one vessel more to sail to Godhaab, and that M« Pless, the first lord of the bed-chamber, had engaged a merchant of the name of i^everen, to send a trader to Disco Bey, on trial. Though the latter would be ready to sail aU most immediately, they preferred, afler deliberate con- sideration, to wait for the King's ship, and ^nade their application to this effect to the chamberlain. Their first audience with this minister was not a little discouraging. Indeed it might well seem strange to him, that young laymen who possessed no advantages of study or experience, should hope to succeed, where the indefatigable exertions of the learned and pious /• RiBCEPTIOM AT COPEKHAOfitf. 7 Kgede had accomplished so little. But being con- vinced by a closer acquaintance of the solidity of their faith, and the rectitude of their intentions, he became their firm friend, willingly presented their memorial to the King, and exerted all his influence in their behalf. He is said on this occasion, to have made use of the following argument ; that God has in all ages employed the meanest and apparently the most despicable mstru- ments for accomplishing the grand designs of his king- dom, in order to leadmen to ascribe the honour to him alone, and rely not on their own power or penetration, but on his hand of blessing. His Majesty, moved by the representations of .his minister, was pleased to accept their overtures, and wrote with his own hand a recommendatory letter to Mr. Egede. The chamberlain also introduced them to several persons distinguished by rank and piety, wlio liberally contributed towards the expense of their voyage and intended settlement. Being asked one day by his Excellency, how they proposed to maintain themselves in Greenland, they answered that they depended on the labour of their own hands, and God's blessing, and that not to be burdensome to any one, they would build themselves a house and cultivate the ground. It * being objected that they would find no wood to build witi], as the country presented little but a face of barren rock : "Then," replied they, "we will dig into the earth and lodge there." " No," said the chamberlain, " to that necessity you shall not be reduced ; you shall take timber with you for building a. house : accept of these 50 dollars tor that purpose." With this and other donations they purchased poles, planks, and laths ; instruments fur agriculture, masonry, and car- penter's work ; several sorts of seeds and roots ; imple- ments of fishing and hunting ; household furniture, books, paper, and provisions. Thus equipped they took an affecting leave of the court where they had been so hospitably entertained, and embarked on the 10th of April, on board thov King's ship, Caritas, captnin Hildcbrand. The coti-^ a 4* / YOTAG^. AND ARfllVAE. IN ORERHLAND. gregation at HisrniAti^ bad already adopted the custoro« of annually compiling a collection of Scripture texts for every day in the year« each illustrated or appjlied by a short verse from some hymn. This text .-^as called the Daily ffard^ it snp&lied a profitable i^ubject for frivate meditation, and a theme for the public discourses, t has been frequendy observed that the text appointed i'ot a day distinguished by some remarkable event, has had a striking coincidence with that event. Thus the Daily Word on that 10th of April, when our Brethren set sail upon a mission which so often appeared to baffle ail hope, was, (Heb. xi. 1..) Faith is tlte subsUmce qf things hoped Jbr, tke evidence qf things not seen* " Pf^e view Him whom no eye can see With Faith's keen vision steatffiistfy,'* In this confidence they set sail, nor did they sutler themselves to be confounded by any of the unspeakable difficulties of the following years, tifl they and we at last beheld the completion of what they hoped for in faith. They sailed by Shetland, April 2^d, i^assing there out of the North into the West Sea, or Long Reach, and after an expeditious and agreeable voyage, entered Davis's Strait, in the beginning of May. Here they encountered a field of floating ice, while enveloped in a thick fog, but the next day a teiTiblc storm arose, which dispersed the ice, and freed them at the same time from their fears. On the Idth, . they came in sight , of the coast of Greenland, when a violent tempest of four days' continuance, pt^ceded by a total eclipse of the sun, drove them back more than 60 leagues. May SOth they cast anchor in Baal's River, after a vovage of six weeks, and joyfullv welcomed the snowy clifn and sa- vage inhabitants oi a country, which had so long been the chief object of their wishes. The Word of the Day was : ** The peace qf God which passeth all understand' ing, shall keep your hearts arid minds through Christ Jesus." By this they were frequently eiircouraged to a /■ BEFLECTIOKS ON tHEIII FB08PSCTS. 9 peaceful^ and believing penevenliice dutiffg-tiie ^rst ensuing years, airtidst all tne oppositions they met withi and the slender prospect of the conversion of the Hea- then. The sight of the 6rst Greentanders* though they could not speak a word to them, was accompanied with sensations of lively pleasure : their pitiable condition pierce(i them to the heart, and they prayed the Lord> the Light to enlighten the Gentiles, that he would grant them grace, wisdom, and power, to liring some of them at least out of darkness into his marvellous light Iminediateiv oii their landing the^ repaired to Mr. Ee^de, and delivered the letters of recommendation, which they had received fi^om several members of the College oi Missions. He gave them a cordial reception, congratulated them on their undertaking, and promised them his assistance in learning the language. They next fixed upon a spot for building on, the nearest ha- bitable part of the coast, to which they afterwards gave the name of New Hermbut*, and having consecrated it with prayer, began to run up a Greenland hue of stones and sods, in which they might find shelter, until they had erected a wooden house. They bought an old boat of the captain, in which they intended to procure themselves food by fishing. It was an early season, and the snow disappeared a month sooner than usual ; yet the cold was do severe, that the turf often froze in tlieir hands. On the 6th of June, they had so far finish- ed their hut, that they could enter it, pulling down the tent of boards, in which they had hitherto lodged. Directlyafter the ship had sailed, June 15th, they laid the foundation of their proper dwelling-house, and advanced so far in five weeks, that one room was habitable. They likewise began to build a house for such Greenlanders as might resort to them for instruction, but it was long before there was any use for this. The honest warmth and confidence of the mission- aries in this period of their labours, appear from the * HtrrnhxU signifies The Lord's Watck, td RCFLECtrONS O.V THEIR PROSPECTS, follbwing letter of Matthew Stach, to his friends ttt Europe : — *' I address you, my Brethren, from a coun- try where the name of Jesus is not yet 'known, and where the Sun of Righteousness has not yet arisen; You live in the bright noon-day ; the sun is risen upon you. Has he now warmed your hearts ? , Or are some of you sti 11 frozen ? 1 he light shines^ round all of you; but for him who has not yet arisen to walk in the light, it were better to have lived in Green- land, and never heard of Jesus. For to know wliat is good, and not to act accordingly, is a reproach to the truth. I'he heart of Jesus burns with love for the sal- vation of ipen ; and will he suffer a soul that pants after him, t to prosecute his studies, and now returned as mis- sionary of the colony to be settled at Disko, The third, in which our missionaries sailed, was loaded with building materials for this colony. Their voyage was far from being agreeable ; for besides hard usage, they were obliged to put up with a great deal of mockery and abusive language. We mention this in order to excite \' fi |_ V i /- 1734.] FOR GREENLAND. 19 gratitude in those missionaries who undertake audi voyages at present, for the many tokens of friendship which they enjoy from a class of men, wh.o took all imaginable pams to torment their predecessors. On June ^d they passed the Shetland Isles, and thenceforward had mostly fogs. By the clearing up of the mist on the 17th, huge masses of ice were exposed to view, which, driven along by a high wind, threatened destruction on every side. Fortunately the wind fell soon after, and they had just time to tack about and sail out into the open sea. June ^d they saw the first land, on the 5th passed the lat. o^Godhaab, and on the 6th and 7th were distressed by a violent storm. At Disko island Christian David met them in the vessel from Goodhope. He was going to assist as car- penter in erecting the newcolony. Having received each other with cordial welcomes, and related what the Lord had done for them since they parted last, they entered the harbour July loth, lent some assistance towards building the colony of Christian* S'haab, and on the @5th set off on their return with Capt. Jacob Bensen to Godhaab, where they arrived August 8th. Just at this crisis two of the missiouaries had begun to think of returning, as they could not see what could be gained by remaining in a country, which seemed almost entirely depopulated, and where the small rem- nant of inhabitants showed no tokens of any interest in religion. But Matthew Stach could not resolve to go away. He often recollected a text which had had a great share in impressing the first impulse which he received to . engage in missionary labours ; namely, " At the evening it shall be light," and determined to stay alone rather than forsake his charge, Mr. Egede kindly oflTering his services, while he remainedin the country. Butwhen they heard that two assistants were coming, and ascertained the determination of the congregation to support the mission, and the favour of the King, they prosecuted their exertions with renewed courage. Being illiterate men, they found great difficulty in studying the grammar and peculiarities of an intricate language. ltd DIFFICULTY OF AeaUIRIMO THE LANGUAGE. [17^4. However, young Mr. Egede, ^rho had learned the lan- guage from the natives while a child, and spoke it with fluency, assisted them very faithfully, and practised with them twice a week in German and Greenlandic. They also endeavoured, as much e, they were forced by a contrary wind upon a desolate island, and obliged to lodge there all night. Here they espied an eagle sitting on the nest, and shot it. After some trouble they got at the nest, and in it found four large eggs besides the bird, which weighed twelve pounds. It also supplied them with a quantity of quills, an article of which they were much iii want. In all their external distresses, the examples of Elijah and Elisha afibrded them the most emphatical consolation. Nor was their confidence put to shame. A short time after the above-mentioned incident, asloop from Holland brought them a cask of provisions, with a letter from a friend in Amsterdam. On tliis occasion they wrote as follows : " We had just then returned from a toilsome but unsuccessful excursion, and were therefore the more struck with the gracious and wonderful pro- vidence of God. Hearing that our Brethren in Amster- 1736.] ARBIVAL OF THRlili' .H1P9. 29 dam requested some account of our circuirt nance!! f|f| also that we would acknowledge the receipt c ihm cask, which thev liad sent to try if they could set ■> us by this channel, we were very desirous of visiting tHe ship. The principal obstacle was the leaky condition of our boat, which seemed unfit to carry us through the prodigious surge that rolls from the ocean into the bays, or to make its way among innumerable islands and sunken rocks. But the encouragement we had just received animated us exceedingly, and on May 20th we set off on our voyage. On the 22d we arrived at the ship, and after having spent a day with the captain, and given him the desired certificate, set off on the 24th on our return. On the way back we bought some seals'-fiesh, and arrived safely at our habitation on the 27th, heartily tired with plying the oar. The angel of the Lord had guarded our lonely dwelling in our absence, for we found that some plunderers had attempted to force the door, but had done no damage.*' Mr. Lelong, well known as an author, was the per- son who had executed the benevolent design oi' trans- mitting some stores by the Dutch ships to the Brethren in Greenland. The same gentleman also solicited the aid of his friends to supply their wants for the next year. By the return of the ship the Brethren signified their gratitude for his benevolent intentions, and also their request to be provided with a good boat, a most necessary article for their subsistence. They now ardently looked forward to the arrival of the ships, and at length three came, the first of which ran into the harbour June ISth. By this they received neither letters nor provisions. The captain, an honest, pious man, expressed compassion at their need, but could only afford them a little salt, being ordered to proceed to the northern colony, whither he took Mr. Egede, as mis- sionary. The last ship arrived 7th of July, but con- tained only a Very scanty supply of provisions, though it brought an increase to their family of four persons. However they were considerably revived by the receipt of many letters, and a new reinforcement of auxiliaries. 90 MR. EOIDB RBTURNS TO DENMARK. [1736. These were, Matthew Stach's mother, a widow forty years of age, and her two unmarried daughters, Rosina and Anna, the former twenty-two, the latter twelve years old. They were sent chiefly to tak^ the manage- ment of the housekeeping. George Wiesner accompa- nied them as conductor, and il was left at his option either to stay in Greenland or to return. He went back theyear after. The venerable Mr. Egede returned to Denmark with this ship. So much has been already related of this wonderful man, whom God used as his sisnal in- strument in beginning the Greenland mission, that no- thing remains but to mention the reasons of his depar- ture, and the ensuing incidents of his life. He came to Greenland with the determination to sacrifice his all to the service of the heathen, and it is manifest how immoveably he adhered to it. He remained in the country throughout a general defection, when nobody was lefl but himself, his family, and a few sailors, with- out any assurance of future support. Seeing however that a longer continuance at his post, for reasons above- mentioned, could answer no good end, he now panted with an ardent desire to visit his native country. His children were growing up, and he could not give them a suitable education in Greenland. Besides, he himself was very sickly, and much enfeebled by the cares, toils, and vexations he had suffered, so that he could no longer discharge his office with alacrity, but had for some time waited for assistance adequate to its incum- brances. Therefore, when in the year 1734 only three missionaries were sent, whom he thought insufn- cient for so extensive a field, he determined to sue for his dismission and go to Copenhagen, that he might represent the state of the missions at the fountain head, and procure a competent reinforcement for it^ successful prosecution. In the year 1735 he received his dis- charge in the most gracious terms, but as he could not resolve to take his wife, who had meanwhile fallen dan- gerously ill, across the ocean, he staid another year m the country. It pleased God to take her to a 17 ;. 1736.] MR. EORDC RBTURM8 TO DENMARK. 01 blessed eternity on the S 1st of December. Mr. Egede drew lier character in the following terms. " The hiu;he8t panegyric with which I can crown her name falls far short of what her piety and Christian virtues deserve. I will not expatiate on her irreproachable conduct in domestic life, nor on hei; peculiar qualifi- cations as a wife and as a mother. Suffice it to men* tion how eagerly she submitted to my will, as soon as she got an msight into the resolution I had formed to forsake my native country and repair to Greenland, that I might instruct its ignorant mhabitants in the doctrines of Christianity. For though friends and re- lations vehemently importuned her, for her own sake, for mine, and for that of our tender offspring, to with- stand this apparently so frantic project ; yet out of love to God and me, she joined heart and hand with me in my hazardous enterprise ; and, like a faithful Sarah, accompanied her husband, not to some Canaan, but to a strange and uncultivated heathen land. And it is well known to many, with what exemplary fortitude she bore her part of the labours and adversities we had to endure j nay, how oflen she cheered my mind when oppressed by reiterated obstacles and repulses." So far Mr. Egede. We have had occasion several times to make mention of this magnanimous woman, whom we may properly call a Christian heroine ; and have only to add that the missionaries never spoke of her but with the greatest respect, as she treated them in all respects like her own children. Mr. Egede's grief for her loss gradually wasted his vigour, both of body and mind, till at last he was visited with a painful at- tack of scurvy. This lasted till the vessel came, in which he was to be carried from Greenland, after having laboured with ardour, though seemingly with- out fruit, for fifteen years. He preached his farewell sermon on Isaiah xlix. 4. »« I said, I have laboured in " vain, I hrive spent my strength for nought and in " vain ; yet sureljr my judgement is with the Lord, «* and my work with my God." After the sermon he baptized a little Greenland boy, which was the first Hk MR. EGEDE ARRIVES IN DENMARK. \^l7f^G» t baptism the Brethren had witnessed in Greenland. His parting interview with them was affecting. They begged him to forgive all failings on their part, and he assured them of his love, which would make it a plensure to him to further their concerns as zealously m Copenhagen, as he had done in Greenland ; he im- plored the divine blessing on their official endeavours, and expressed a lively hope, that God would bring the afiairs in Greenland, which he now left in heaviness, to a glorious issue. August 9th he sailed with his youngest son and two daughters. The Brethren sent Christian Stach with him as their deputy to Herrn- faut, to give a verbal statement of their internal and external circumstances, and also of their labours among the heathen, because hitherto their letters could not be properly conveyed. They arrived in Copenhagen September 2ith. Mr. Egede had taken the remains of his wife with him, and they were interred in St. Nicholas's church-yard. Soon after he had the honour of an interview with the King, and on *hat occasion made known his sentiments concerning the most effectual means of prosecuting the mission to advantage. He was afterwards made superintendent of the mission in Greenland, with a salary of 1(H)/. per annum, and was ordered to found a seminary of students and orphans, whom he should teach the Greenland tongue, and from whom the missionaries and catechists were to be chosen. He spent his last days in retirement with his daughter on the island of Falster, and there he closed a useful and honourable life, in the 73d year of his age. As the family of missionaries now consisted of seven persons, they made a new arrangement as to their do- mestic economy and their several employments. As Matthew Stach's two sisters, besides doing their share of housekeeping, were appointed assistants in serving the Greenland women with the gospel, that brother instructed them in the language with assiduity. In this study they both, and especially the youngest, made an unexpcctea proficiency. 173(i.] MOCKERY OF THE BRETHUEN. S3 Much could not be effected this year in their labours among the heathen. Few of the natives visited them, being still unconcerned about spiritual things, and temporal advantages they could not expect to reap. Only in the spring some poor starved objects found their way to tiiem, to whom they gladly gave some victuals when they had any. , Neither had they any opportunity for distant visits, but were obliged to content themselves with a few excursions in the neighbourhood. They found few open ears, and still fewer desirous hearts. For tlie Greenlanders sometimes had not time to listen on ac- count of their business or a dancing-match, at other times, they would hear nothing but news, and told the Brethren that they had heard enough already of spiritual things from abler instructors. At the same time they were not only volatile and trifling under instruction, but in case the Brethren stopped more than one night in their houses, used all possible means to entice them to conformity with their dissolute prac- tices. And as these did not succeed, but the Brethren maintained their serious deportment, they endeavoured to tire them out by mocking their reading, singing, and praying, with all kinds of ridiculous mimickry, or by accompanying their devotional exercises with drums. They also took occasion from their outward poverty to ridicule them with all manner of cutting sarcasms, which the Brethren had by this time learned to understand. And if the latter replied, that they did not stay in Greenland for the sake of outward advantages, good eating or drinking, they retorted with a jeer, Illiose Ajokarsaromarpisigut ! Fine fellows indeed to be our teachers ! We know very well that {rou yourselves are ignorant, and have learned your esson of others. The Brethren bore these rude mockeries with equani- mity. But when the savages perceived that they could effect nothing in this way, they began to insult and abuse the persons of the missionaries. They pelted them with stones for sport, took their things and shat* VOL, II. D ,^4 A NEW CONVEIIT. [1736. tered them to pieces, and tried to spoil their boat, or drive it out to sea. One night the Brethren heard a noise on the outside of their tent, and perceived that some one was pulling its curtains, which were fastened with pins. Upon going out to investigate the cause of the uproar, they beheld a company of Greenlanders collected about the tent, some of whom had naked knives in their hands, and could not be driven off till threatened with fire-arms. The Brethren supposed at that time, that they came only to cut their tent-skins to pieces ; but some years after, when a number of Green- landers in these parts were converted, they were informed that a conspiracv had been set on foot against their lives, in hopes that the other Europeans would not revenge the death of such poor despised people. Meanwhile the Brethren did not relinquish their hopes, and rejoiced if but one of the natives listened with pleasure to the doctrine of reconciliation, espe- cially if he came of his own accord to hear. This year afforded the first instance of the latter case in a quite strange and heathen man. We shall quote their own words : " May 4th, we went to the Sound to pierce cat-fish with a prong, and pitched our tent near four Greenland dwellings. But the inhabitants soon de- camped and fled further, not relishing our company. While we were fishing, on the 7th, a perfectly strange heathen, who arrived this spring from a place 50 leagues distant in the south, came to us, and desired to see our things. We showed him what we had, supposing that he wished to barter some Greenland food for our iron- ware. But after remaining quite silent for some time, fae at last said that he had been with the pellesse, (their way of pronouncing praetz, or minister,) who had told him wonderful things of One, who was said to have created heaven and earth, and was called God. Did yre know any thing about it ? If we did, we should tell him something more, as he had forgotten a good deal. This discourse made a deep impression upon us. We ' told him of the creation of man, and the intention of it, of the fall, and consequent corruption of the human 1736.] ARRIVAL OF PROVISIONS. 55 race, of the redemption through Christ, of the resur- rection, and of eternal happiness and damnation. He listened very attentiveljr, was present at our evening meeting, and slept all night in our tent." " This is the first Greenlander, who has come to en- quire concerning divine things : those in the neigh- bourhood are still quite dead, though the Bible has been read to them so many years. Pray, therefore, to the Sun of Righteousness that he may arise, even in this desert, with healing in his wings." 1737. — Their irksome state of inaction lasted till May, when they contrived to patch up their damaged boat and venture out to sea, no less to their own surprise than that of every one else. The hard necessity of their case prompted tnem to risk their lives, where in other cir- cumstances they would have considered themselves as tempting God ; and their confidence in the Divine protection was not disappointed. Though not so straightened for the means of subsistence as in the two preceding years, having received a few stores by the last ship, they had still to put themselves upon short allow- ance, and seldom tasted the luxury 01 bread. They either bartered the malt that was sent them for pease, or ground and boiled it into a soup, to which they drank water. Sometimes a Greenlander brought them the bread to sell, which had been given him at the colony. When the weather again permitted them to go out to sea, they seldom returned without some booty, and if they were totally unsuccessful, the Greenlanders brought them eggs. Having caught nothing at all on one of [their expeditions, they providentially found a dead seal [with the harpoon sticking in it, to redeem which its owner brought them another seal. They had formerly I supplied themselves with water by melting snow and ice '\ in the warm room ; they now succeeded in sinking a well, and met with a plentiful spring. The arrival of the ship on the 6th of July at length brought them a competent stock of provisions. Their fellow-labourer, Christian Stach, whom they had dele- d2 . . I m V so INTELLIGENCE OF FRESH SUCCOURS. [l?^?' If!i gated last year to Germany, returned with this vesseK On his outward voyage in company of Mr. Egede, he had encountered four terrible storms ; the last of these, attended with a thick mist, was the most violent; though it continued only for an hour, it almost overset the ship, and dashed in pieces thirty vessels on the coast of Norway. After informing the Brethren at Hermhut of the state of the mission, and recommending it to their prayers and support, he proceeded to England to confer with Count Zinzendorf, who was then in London. The latter, with his colleagues in office, endeavoured to animate his hopes by citing the cheering example of the mission in St. Thomas, which already began to flourish, and gave him several useful hints for the general con- duct of the missionaries, though they could not advise them how to act in particular circumstances. With regard to the outward support of the Brethren in Greenland, they promised to do every thing in their power, and took the necessary measures without delay. Christian Margraf having offered himself for the ser- vice of the heathen in Greenland, was ordained for his office in Holland by Bishop David Nitschmann. From Amster(^m the two missionaries travelled to Copen- hagen, and having received the royal permission in very kind terms, set sail for Greenland. After many diffi- culties they arrived on the coast, and ran into a harbour three leagues distant from the colony. Here a storm blowing from the south drove the vessel on a rock, whence however it was happily got off without damage, after continuing for IS hours in so perilous a situation, that the keel was discernible at low water. The next day they were received with joy and thankfulness by their Brethren. They brought the welcome intelligence, that the friends of the mission in Holland had promised to send a new boat by the whalers. They were td receive it at the outermost islands, where they accordingly waited for several days together, at two different times, but in vain. Their old boat, which had been given them, when the owners were afraid to use it any longer, had 17570 MORE MISFORTUNES. 37 now grown so leaky, that the very sight of it made them shudder. In spite of continual repairs it was so rotten, that they could run their knives through it. Alarming apprehensions arose in their minds for the safety of both ship and boat, and these fears were by ro means ground- less. The season was unusually cold, spirits froze in rooms with fires in them, and the breath congealed on their faces even in May. There were frequent storms on the coast, in one of which the captain, who brought them the cask of provisions the last year, lost his ship. The crew saved tiiemselvea in two boats, but were dbliged to cruize upwards of 400 miles, before they could meet with a Dutch vessel. The boatmen of the colony, too, had their share of misfortunes. Being intercepted and carried away by a sudden tempest, before they could retreat to a place of safety, the Brethren went to seek them, and after three days* quest, found them almost dead with cold and hun- ger. A still more dreadful casualty befel them towards the end of the year. On their return from a trading voy- age, a heavy hurricane caught them, when within eight miles of their home> and drove them into the ice, by which they were impounded for four days, tossed and whirled round the whole time, between life and death, by the mountainous waves. They at length extricated themselves and gained the shore, but it was twenty leagues from their destination. No sooner had they all landed, than the wind tore away the two boats and drove them out to sea. Happily for them,, they found a Greenlander, who hospitably entertained them for several days, and conveyed them half way home b v; water. They were obliged to prosecute the remainder of their journey on foot in the bitter cold, over a rough and hilly country. After two days* march, they fell in with a party of savages, who offered themselves as guides for the rest of the way. While the external circumstances of the Brethren wore so ominous an aspect, they met with no buds of promise in their labours of love among their heathen charge, to cheer and invigorate their spirits. Fivo 38 OBSTINACY OF THE NATIVES. [I737. y long years of continued toil and hardship had passed away without any appearance of success ; and it had already come to their knowledge, that their unpro- ductive labours were a subject of ridicule to many per- sons in their native country. * Can it be thought strange, if, under these discouragements, they felt a degree of concern, lest their friends and patrons should withdraw their support, and decline any further risk in an undertaking loaded with misconstructions ? One who knew the Pa^n nations, and was acquainted with the almost total failure of all antecedent attempts at their conversion, a failure which confirmed many intbe opinion, that nothing less than miracles would win their beliefj would find less matter of wonder in the past unfruitful- ness of these novices in the work, than in the unblench- ing perseverance, which they opposed to distress, diffi- culties, and impediments of every kind, never for a mo- ment quitting hold of the hope of ultimate success. The present prospect was indeed dreary and comfort- less. The Greenlanders, who came from a distance, were ignorant and stupid, and the little they could hear in a short visit, was soon effaced by the hurry of a migratory life. In those, who resided at Baal's river, the onlv change that could be perceived was for the worse ; they were tired and disgusted, and hardened against the truth. They resolved to lend their hearing no longer, except for a bribe. To any kind of news, they indeed listened with delight, and could bear to hear interesting Scrip- ture narratives, and accounts of miracles, but as soon as the missionaries began to discoure on the nature and attributes of God, the fall and corruption of the soul, Qod's wrath against sin, the necessity of an atone- ment, faith and grace, tiie sanctification of the disor- dered creature, and eternal happiness or misery ; they grew sleepy, answered every question with a 7/e^, and slunk away one by one. Or else they showed open ^ A certain writer applied to tlie missionaries the line of the satirist : — " Nos numerus sumus, et frugcs consumere nati :" a cutting taunt to ir.en less firm in their principles, but in this instance it was soon wiped oft'. 17370 CONDITION OF THE SAVAGES. 39 but in this marks of displeasure, and began to talk of seal-catqh- ing ; or they pleaded their incapacity of understanding, the truths proposed. " Shew us the God you describe," they said, ** then we will believe on him and obey him.. You represent him as too high and incomprehensible ; how shall we arrrive at him ? or how can he trouble himself about us ? We have invoked him, when faint and hungry, *and were not heard. What you say of him, cannot be true ; or, if you know him better than we, pray for us, and procure for us a sufficiency of food, a sound body, and a dry house; that is all we want. Our soul is healthy already : you are of a dif- ferent race from us : people in your countiy may have diseased souls ; and from the instances we see of them, we can believe, that for them a physician of souls may be necessary. Your heaven andyour spiritual joys and feli- cities may be good enough for you, but they would be too tedious for us. We must have seals, fishes, and birds. Our souls can no more subsist without them than our bodies ; we shall not finll these in your para- dise, which we will therefore leave to you and the worthless part of our countrymen ; but as for us, we will go down to Torngarsuk, — there we shall find a superfluity of all things, and enjoy them without trouble." By such arguments did they endeavour to ward off every thing, that was calculated to make an impression on their hearts, not sparing, unless they were checked, the most sacred mysteries of religion in mockery too profane to be repeated; for the most stupid Green- lander can misuse his understanding, as well as his superiors in intellect. As the Brethren found their company still shunned by the natives, they were necessitated to seek for them among the islands in their leaky old boat. The parti- culars of one such voyage will be sufficient to give an idea of the condition of tlie poor savages at that time. The Brethren set out in November, purposing to visit Kangek, but were driven by contrary winds to the •n 1- 40 PROCEEDINGS OP WATTHEVT STACII. CI737. . southern islands, where they met with many Green- landers of their acquaintance as well as strangers ; among the rest Ippegaw, who two years ago had been the providential means of preserving^ their lives, and had since then been in the south. They were kindly received by these people, and though, before two days had elapsed, they were given to understand that their return would be agreeable, they prevailed on them to permit one of the missionaries to make a short sta^ amongst them, for the sake of improving himself in their language. Matthew Stach lived a month with them, and /yave the following account of his proceedings to his brethren. " My hosts are extremely changeable in their con- duct, sometimes friendly, sometimes morose. At first I conversed much with them, and occasionally read them a passage from the New Testament ; but now their desire of hearing is gone, I have told them the reason, why the Son of God was obliged to die ; but they only desire me to go out with |hem, and call upon God*s Son to give them seals, because they are in want. " All I say to them of divine thir, js is made matter of chit-chat and laughter. On the contrary, they extol their angekoks, who can vanish out of sight, glide along an invisible rope to heaven and hell, and rescue the incarcerated seals from the infernal demon. When I point out the absurdity of these tales, they angrily bid me hold my peace, and turn their backs upon me. At other time$, they will tell me, they believe all I say, and would have me to stay longer with them and learn their language, that I may tell them more. But these fits of good-will are very transient. On one occasion, they danced two whole nights successively. 1 believe there were one hundred and fifty people assembled together in the house ; some of them tried every thing to vex me, and they drummed and bellowed so horribly during the dancing, that my ears ached. The next day it rained violently j then they begged me to pray to the Son of God, because he was Almighty, to send them good weather, that the rain might not penetrate througii the roof. I told them there was no necessity 1737.] PUOCE£UINO« OF MAlTHKW 8TACH. 4if eir con- to pray for that, as they might prevent the inconve- nience by spreading their tent-sxins upon the roof ^' they should rather pray to God, to be gracious to their souls. They scouted my advice, and said they under- stood noth**' ^, about it, nor did they need it j though for myself, perhaps, it might be very good. And in general they speak contemptuously and spitefully of ali that they have heard and professed for so many years ta believe. They frequently ask questions, which sound very foolish, and yet involve sarcasms on Christian truths. My soul is oflen in a flame, when they mock my God. However, the children all love me and run afler me ; sometimes I call them together, speak with them, and ask them questions. They listen with pleasure, but it is difficult to keep up their attention ; and as soon as some new object catches their eye, away they run after it. " As I was one day reading to a Greenlander, there occurred the words : * We should despise earthly things;* he immediately said Saog, Why so? I in- formed him, that God had created mankind not only for this earthly life, but for an everlasting state of existence, and that it was the unhappy effect of the Fall, that men concerned themselves solely for the body, careless of the imperishable soul, and of that doom which awaits them, when Christ shall come to judge the world, and shall conduct those, who be- lieve, to heaven, but shall consign the wicked and un- believing to fire unquenchable. The Greenlander re- plied : * If the Son of God be such a terrible Being, I do not wish to go to heaven.' I asked him, if he would go to hell-hre? He answered. No; he would not go thither either, but would stay here upon earth. When I represented to him, that no man can stay for ever upon earth, but all must die and remove to a good or a bad place, he mused a while and then said, he did not know that, nor did he like to hear any more about it ; he must go a fishing ; his wife had no provisions ; and he had no ears for such incompre- hensible things.*' ^ ' 4,2 HISTORY OF MAUOEK. [I737. So little effect was produced on the Greenlanders by dwelling on the divine attributes, eternal happiness or misery, and the Christian duties. Something else was requisite, something, which must be .given from above, and received in true simnlicity and lowliness. . 1738. — Though none of the seed as yet sown had sprung up in the hearts of the heathen, the Brethren began the year 1738 with a renewed determination to persevere. They seemed to have a presentiment, how near was the help from Zion, and that in this year the Lord would burst the chains, which held the poor Greenlanders in bondage to Satan. Many hungry visitors as usual applied for assistance. In these they took particular pams to discover some traces of grief for sins committed, but so dead were their consciences, that even thieves, to whom they ex- plained at large the enormity of their crime, were pre- sently caught in all sorts of thefl. Among their famished guests was a young Greenlander, called Mangek, who offered to come and live with them, if they would maintain him, promising at the same time to give them all the seals he caught. Though it was not probable, that he would prolong his stay afler the famine ceased, they took him in, as an mstrument sent from above, to teach them the language more fundamentally. Daily instruction was given him, and particular attention paid to the state of his heart. At first they perceived no difference between him and his former companions, but by and by observed from his deportment, that something was going forwards in his heart, which led the others to persecute him ; who, afier finding all allurements vain, endea- voured to bring about his dismissal from the Brethren, by charging him with having purloined several articles. But after strict examination, they were forced to own, that they had invented their accusation. By degrees some emotions were perceived in his heart, and it was noticed that, especially during prayers, tears frequently started from his eyes. 1738.] LETTER OF THE MISSIONARIES. 45 it <( «( Tfiough this young man afterwards left them, yet his partial awakening afibrded them considerable re- freshment, and seemed a sort of guarantee, that the Redeemer would soon display the power of his blood in the hearts of the benightea Greenlanders. In a letter sent to Germany about this time, they write as follows : " How does it abase us, when we receive " by the ship accounts of the success of our fellow- labourers among Christians and heathens, and espe- cially of the abundant harvest now reaping in St. Thomas, while poor we must go away empty. But *« courage, dear brethren ! Let us believe, that the " Lord will still do glorious things in Greenland. Do «* not intermit your supplications, that God would " display his power in the hearts of these poor people." Two days after this letter was sent off, the first Green- lander, a wild native of the south, quite unknown to them, (and who had never heard a word about God,) was solidly awakened by the doctrine of Jesus* suffer- ings. We shall relate this important event, as nearly as possible, in their own words. " June 2d, many of the natives of the south that passed our habitation visited us. John Beck was at the time just writing a translation of the Evangelists. The savages earnestly requested to hear the contents of that book. He accordingly read part of it, and took the opportunity to enter mto some conversation with them. He asked them if they had an immortal soul ? They answered. Yes 1 He asked, again, where their souls would go after death? Some said, up yonder, pointing to the sky; others, down into the abyss. After setting them to rights, he asked them. Who had made heaven, earth, and every thing visi- ble ? They replied, that they did not know, nor had ever heard, but that it certainly must have been some great and opulent lord. He then told them, how God had created all things good, particularly man, but that the latter revolted through disobedience, thereby plung- ing himself into extreme misery and ruin. But that his Creator had mercy on him, and became man to re- 4i CONVERSION OF THE NATIVES. [J 738. I deem him by suffering and d^ing. And now, said Brother Beck, we must believe in Him, if we wish to be saved. The Holy Spirit then prompted this brother to give them an energetic description of ^he agonies of Jesus. He exhorted them to consider seriously, how much it had cost our Saviour to purchase their redemption, how he had been wounded, suffered inex- pressible anguish, sweat blood, and died a cruel death ibr their sakes, and how awful would be their respon- sibility, should they reject his offers of grace. He afterwards read to them from the New Testamebt the narrative of Christ's sufferings on the Mount of Olives. Then the Lord opened the heart of one of them, called Kajarnak, who stepped up to the table and said with a loud, earnest, and affecting voice : " How was that ? Tell me that once more, for I would fain be saved too.' * These words,* says the missionary, * the like of which I had never heard from a Greenlander before, thrilled through my frame, and melted mv heart to such a degree, that the tears ran down my cheeks, while I gave the Greenlanders a general account of our Saviour's life and death, and of the whole counsel of God con- cerning our Salvation.' Meanwhile the other brethren returned from their several employments, and began to explain the doctrines of the Gospel to the heathen, still more at large. Some of them laid their hands upon their mouths, as is their custom, when struck with surprise. Some who had no relish for the sub- ject, sneaked off j but others desired, that we should teach them also to pray ; and when we did so, they repeated our expressions over and over, in order not to forget them. In short, there was such an agitation among them as we had never seen before. At taking leave, they promised to repeat their visit in a short time, and hear of this matter again, and that they would also tell their acquaintance of it. ** A short time after, some of them visited us again, and staid all night. Kajarnak still recollected a great portion of what had been told him, and could recite 1733.] CONVERSION OP THK NATIVES. 45 some of the prayers. He said, he would now go to his tent, and tell his family, especially his little son, these wonderful things. ** On the 18th of June, a great number of the natives visited us again. Most of them were deaf to the Gos- pel. But it became more and more apparent, that di- vine truth had made an indelible impression on the heart of Kajarnak. He is continually repeating either a short ejaculation, or a text, that he has heard from us, and is now come entirely to live with us. When we speak to him, the tears frequently roll down his cheeks. His peculiar intelligence is surprising, when compared with the supineness and stupidity of the other Greenlanders, who can scarcely comprehend, what is daily repeated to them. But this man scarcely hears a truth before he understands it, so as to retain it in his memory and heart. He is also exceedingly affec- tionate, and shows a constant desire to be instructed, catching every word with an eagerness, which we have never observed in a Greenlander before. His family, or tent companions, were the first, who were benefited by the conversation of Kajarnak, ; but before a month had elapsed, three large families of South Greenlanders came and pitched their tents near the mission-house. They came to hear the joyful news of their redemption ; and when the Brethren could not find suitable expres- sions, the new convert helped them from the fulness of his heart. All were affected, and several even of those, who had at first opposed, declared that they would now believe and stay during the winter with Kajarnak." But few of them kept their word. Most of them soon after took their leave with tears to share in the rein- deer hunt, promising to return towards winter. Ka- jarnak declined accompanying them, lest his soul should suffer harm, which, alas ! was the case with his compa- nions. They indeed returned, but the heathenish prac- tices, in which they had engaged, had obliterated their religious impressions ; and after some time they left the Brethren entirely. By their departure Kajarnak, hav- 46 A SCHOOL BEGUN. [1738. ing no tent of his own, was brought into great straits. The Brethren offered him a part of their own dwelling, though it was very small. But he only requested a couple of skins for a tent, alledging, that this was the third time his friends had forsaken him, and taken with them the woman's boat and tent, because he would not follow their ways. From this declaration it might be gathered, that even before the arrival of the Brethren the Holy Spirit had been preparing his heart for the re- ception of the Gospel. The Brethren were always concerned, lest his friends should entice him away. They took every opportunity to exaggerate the difficulties of his new way of life, and the bondage he would suffer, in comparison to their wild, unbounded freedom ; at the same time doing their utmost to make the missionaries contempti- ble, and their doctrines and friendship suspicious. But as Kajarnak diilered very much from his country- men in point of sincerity, ingenuously disclosed to the Brethren the bad reports propagated concerning them amongst the heathen, and always conferred with them about his intentions, they could satisfy their minds, that He who had begun a good work in him, would certainly accomplish it. In the beginning of October, when the frost sets in, and the Greenlanders forsake their tents, about twenty persons were lodged in two houses, one of which was afterwards deserted. The Brethren therefore began to devote an hour every morning and evening to prayer, and catechization. On Sunday, a passage from the Bible was read and explained, and five persons, who were regarded the most suitable candidates for baptism, received special instruction, previous to their partaking of that sacrament. A school also was begun, which at Srst was a source of much toil and vexation, on account of the excessively volatile disposition of the Greenland children. However, afler much labour, some of them learnt to read a little. 1738.] WANT OF INSTRUCTORS. 47 When the Greenlanders laboured under disease, the Brethren were their only physicians, and the Lord blessed the medicines which they administered, in a variety of cases. Two invalids wished to have a form of prayer, adapt- ed to their circumstances. Their request was indulged, but thev were informed, at the same time, that they might always spread their wants before our Saviour, in their own words, with confident simplicity. This delightful beginning of a work of God, was speedily interrupted, by an occasion for admonition and reproof. On the return of the sun, at the win- ter solstice in December, the awakened Greenland- ers were invited to a dance in the neighbourhood, and though warned by the missionaries, most of them repaired thither privately. The next day they were reminded how the people of God had been chastised for such carnal merriment, in which they put themselves on a level with the heathen. The greater number were ashamed of their conduct, yet the Brethren heard with pain, how some attempted to vindicate themselves by alledging, that they had gone out of complaisance to their friends. The Brethren, finding that four persons were not adequate to the task of instructing and caring for the Greenlanders, were obliged to apply for two more assistants, and as they were very much cramped in their present dwelling, also requested, that, if possible, they might be provided with a new house, contain- ing one large room, and two lesser ones adjoining it. Their wish could not, however, be gratified, till four years after." The appropriate promise contained in the text ap- pointed for the day, on which Kajarnak's awakening took place, is remarkable. It was the following: *' They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble ; for they are the seed of the blessed of the Lord, and their offspring with them." • Isaiah, Ixv. 23. 1739. — The awakening, which had commenced in 48 PROGRESS OF THE NATIVKS. [17^9- the preceding year, continued to gain strength in this. Several incidents, by no means agreeable, were service- able in bringing the natives to hear the truth, and in preparing their hearts to embrace it. In the very begin- ning of the year, the cold was so rigorous, and tliere was so much ice in the vicinity of the colony, that the ordinary hunting expeditions were entirely suspended, xind many Greenlanders were frozen to death for want of train to supply their lamps, or perished yet more miserably by hunger. This distress urged them to seek refuge amongst tlie Europeans. Some were obliged to walk for many leagues over the ice with their kajaks on their heads, before they came to the water. They earnestly entreated the colonists to gram them a dwell- ing-place, and to fetch their wives and children, who stood waiting on the ice, many miles distant. The Brethren set out immediately on this charitable service, accompanied by another boat from the colony, but the jce prevented their landing on the island, and t were forced to leave the poor wretches a whole we* their misery, till more favourable weather perm, them to be brought off. They had lain ten days on the snow, and had barely kept up life by eating old skins, shoe-leather, and sea-weed. A Greenlander had in the mean time succeeded in a hazardous attempt to bring his wife and children to the colony in two kajaks : he with his eldest child tied to his back in one kajak, towing along the other which contained his wife and youngest child. The Brethren had now their two Greenland houses completely crowded with these people. They em- braced the opportunity to address themselves to their hearts, and the attention perceived in several showed, that these exhortations were not altogether without efiect. " How long," said they, " have we and our fathers neither known nor believed the truth ! who would still refuse to hear and embrace it !" 1 lie Brethren on this occasion gratefully acknowledged the favourable change in their outward circumstances. Two years ago -»v cU 1739.] beck's narrative. 49 they thought themselves happy, if they could buy such bones or offal as the Greenianders were ready to throw away{ now thev had continually 1.0 or 20 hungry persons standing round them, and fed from their table. In the spring tney carried these fugitives, at their retjuest, back to their former residence. Yet one family staid, and the rest promised to pay them frequent visits, and to live with them during the winter, that they might hear God's word, • The Brethren did not remain inactive in the interim, but commenced their visits round the country, as earl^ as February, though they were obliged to carry their boat over a great extent of ice. Scarcity of provisions had compelled the Greenlanders to resort to Kangekf and John Beck accompanied them, in order to instruct those who had already heard the Gospel, and to proclaim it to the rest. His recital of his labours during his twelve days' abode there, is interesting, as it exhibits the manner, in which the missionaries endeavoured to convey divine truths to the understanding of the natives. " We found five houses upon one of the islands, and were all lodged in the largest. In the evening I had a meeting for prayer with our own people, which raised the wonder of tiie savages. February 3d, after singing a hymn and prayer, I discoursed to them on the love of God, who would have all men to be saved, and come to the knowledge of the truth. I afterwards spoke separately with each of our own people, exhort- ing Mangek, in paiticular, to lead an exemplary life before his countrymen, as he was the first, who gave himself up to our instruction. On the 4th numbers * No one will be hardy enough to insinuate from hence, that the Brethren wished to allure the natives by temporal benefits, and bribe them to turn Christians. It is one thing to proselyte a person by favours, and another to open the arms of mercy to every one whom bodily distress forces to us for help, without respect of persons or sentiments, and to take this opportunity to make such a poor wretch acquainted with his Creator ; else indeed we should be worse than infidels. VOL. II. * E 50 .'' BECK'S NARRATIVE. [1739. fcaine to Kangek from other islands, to dance. The house \vas completely filled, and we withdrew into a dttlalier hut, sufTering them to pursue their orgies undis- turbed, the whole night. After they had slept them- selves sober, 1 told them something of the creation, the ■fall, and our redemption. Megak, who slept next to nie, was very much affected by the evening prayer. When we lay down to rest, he several times repeated parts of it, and asked in what manner our Saviour had aelivet-ed us from the power of the Destroyer. I was vastly pleased to see him inquisitive about so noble a Subject, and conversed with him on it upwards of an lidur. He resumed the topic as soon as he awoke in the morning. Aiter I had prayed with them, I crossed the ice to another island to instruct the savages. Con- trasted with their miserable ignorance, I could value more highly the grace, wiiich the Lord has bestowed ^pon Kajarnak and his family. He longed much to return to New Hermhut, for the din of the savages shocked him. In the evening, three men staying unusually long at sea, occasioned great anxiety to their friends. 1 consoled them by suggesting, that the delay was probably owing to some heavy capture ; and as the hunters feturaed at midnight with two seals, they ima- gined I could prophesy, and said they would in future believe all my words. The next day they were very attentive to a discourse on the love of Jesus, in coming into the world to redeem us by suffering and dying. In the evening, however, they renewed their dances, with the exception of a few, who staid and listened with interest to what I said. Matters continued in this train during the rest of my visit. I spoke from time to time with our people, especially the children, on the incar- nation and passion of Jesus. They were all extremely desirous to be at home again. At parting, Megak gave me a fowl in token of his gratitude, which was the more remarkable, as the Greenlanders are far better pleased to receive than to make presents." The grateful reflections, which frequently arose in the mind of our missionary during his intercourse with 17390 BECK*S NARRATIVE. 51 these savages, are pleasingly depicted in another letter from Kangek, " When I see how this crowd of people live without God in the world, blindly following the impulses of nature, the great love of our faithful Saviour appears more important to me. We have found mercy. We also were once strangers, we were not his people ; but he has brought us nigh unto himself^ and taught us to look up to him continually by faith.x What suitable requital can we make him for his generous love and free grace, except by offering him our heart ? If we give him that, happy are we, for all the attacks of the enemy will be impotent j we are sheltered in his wounds. Still it behoVes us much to watch and pray, if we would maintain the victory. For the adversary has great wrath against those, who are now rescued from his yoke ; how much more, then» against us, who are intent on making inroads, hito his kingdom ! His devices are apparent here in various wavs ; but the Lord gives us the victory over them all.*' The Brethren now made numerous excursions, and as the Danish missionaries could not procure a boat and boatmen, as often as they wished, the former ac- commodated them with part of theirs. The natives in general showed greater relish for their company, the jBrethren being now able to express themselves more in- telligibly in their language, and to enter into fami- liar conversation with them. The testimony of tlie truth was often attended with considerable emotion among the hearers ; but as long as they were strangers to the true life that proceedeth from God, their un- derstandings were extremely clouded. They had learned from visible things to own an invisible Creator, to fear him, and to call upon Him for the supply of their natural wants ; but to representations of the cor- ruption of the soul, tlie necessity of a renovation and cf faith in Jesus, they returned their customary affirmation : " We believe it all ;** the import of which, as the Brethren were by this time aware, was that they were unwilling to be troubled any further about the sub- ject. Even where some degree of* reflection was excited» E 2 .52 A SON BURTES HIS MOTIJFR ALIVE. [1739. .'ij "i It generally issued, not in a wholesome self-knowledge and fervent longing afler a Redeemer, but in curious questions, drfficult to be cleared up to a raw uncul- tivated understanding, and of no practical utility. One, for instance, asked, if God could not hear the seFpent speaking to Eve ; and if he could, why did he not warn her of the danger, and prevent the fail? Many barbarous actions were committed under their eyes, which they had not the power to prevent. A son had, according to the Greenland custom, tied up his mother, ^ho had apparently breathed her last, in a skin. An hour after, she began to utter lamentable screams. Fear hushed the Greenlanders into silence, but on the urgent persuasions of one of tlie mission- aries, the son uncovered her face, and asked her if she was really still alive. No answer being returned, he tied her up again. Some time afWr, the cries were repeated, on which her son put a piece of blubber into her mouth, which she swallowed ; but as she could not speak, he once more closed the shroud. When she raised her outcry the third time, and answered his ques- tion, be reluctantly consented to release her. The poor wretch, however, was not long suffered to enjoy this .reprieve. Her unnatural offspring seized his op- portunity to gag her, and coiH'ey her unnoticed to another island, secure from fear of interruption, where he buried her alive. This cruelty he afterwards pal- liated, by saying, that he had merely put an end to her misery, as she had been deranged and unable to take any food for Several days. It was observed, that he had made crosses in the snow, at regular intervals along the path, by which he had drawn her to the fhtnl «pot. * Painfully as these proofs of the miserably degraded and obdurate state of the natives in general affected the * Both the prevalence and the origin of this custom are points on which I could gather po satisfactory intelligence. The latter would be accounted ibr on the supposition, if it could be admitted, that tome of the old Norwegian Christians were incorporated with the Greenlanders. 17390 THE CATECHUMENS BAPTIZED. 33 les were feelings of the missionaries^ they derived abundant con- solation from the prosperity or Kaiarnak and the rest of their catechumens. They plainly traced in them, not only a real consciousness of a Deity, but a profound reverence for him ; not only a compliance with the doc- trines of a future resurrection, and eternal happiness for believers, but deep views of their misery, joy in the love of God as displayed in Christ's atonement, and an increasing desire for the word of life.' The work of grace had taken deep root in their hearts, and evinced its power in a change of life, voluntary renunciation fw follies of Pagani't, ^lid a cheerful endurance of tne n^v/xjkery of their luHdel acquaintance, by whom they were forsaken, hated, and contemned. Kaiarnak in particular was much affected by what he had neard, and would sometimes, of his own free impulse, exhort his countrymen to embrace the truth after their long ignorance, or he would offer up a short but fervent prayer to the same purpose. He had a clear head, and asssisted his teachers in the choice of proper words, fre- quently correcting them in the equivocal expressions, to which they were still liable, and which were open to the sly perversions of the malicious savages. He was not satisfied with merely answering the questions, which his teachers put to him, but brought forward his own enquiries, and sought an explanation of his difficulties. During a conversation on -the new theme, which now engrossed all his thinking powers, he declared that as soon as an evil thought arose in his mind, he imme- diately, wherever he was, raised his heart in silence to Jesus, and prayed him to deliver him from it by his blood. As the catechumens, evinced a lively desire fc; bap- tism, the Brethren could no longer refuse to comply with their request, and open to them in this holy ordi- nance the way to the enjoyment of all the blessings Eurchased by the blood of JesUs. They did not, how- owever, take this step without great caution. Man- gek was denied the participation of this privilege, though he had continu,ed' under their instruction up- E 3 1^1 nil f at";' 1.1 S4> GJlE£lttA)9D FdHMUtARY 6P ^A^ISM. [1739. wards of a year, atid had not b^en without visitings of grace; but no durable impression had been ttiade upoi^ his mind, as he himself owned with shame. Perhaps the Bre- threh carried their scrupulosity too far in this insttince, and re()uired more thah could reasonably be expected of a person still uilbaptized ; and it ttiay haV^ beeii the pain and disappointment of this repuljiej \vhich threw him into an unsettled, wavering statie, till he finally betook himself to the heathen. But the miissionaries cannot be justly blaiiied for their strictness in regard to the admission of their first candidates, knowing, as they did, that the ceremony would attract universal attfentioh to the conduct of the new Christians. Kajarnak and his family were now taken into a special preparation for baptism, atid were daily instructed in the most essential articles of the Christian faith ^ as they could best compreheild attd retaiA them in their "memories. On Easter Sunday they were solenfmly baptized, Kajarnak receiving the name of Satoud, 'his wife being called Anna, his son Matthe^, and his daughter Hannah. After they had before the whol6 congregation simply answered tihe interrogatories df the missionaries respecting the ground of their hope, and promised to renoutice all heathenish practices, remain constantly with their teachers, and lead ^ life worthy of the Gospel, they were, with fervent prayer and imposition of hands, pronounced free from the ?ower of darkness, and dedicated to their rightful iord and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Greenland formu- lary is as follows: Koiaukit Atatah Niarnahlo ArmeV' nerneruhlo Amnginrierum Akkantit, Jesuh Tokkoanut, " I baptize thee in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, into the death of Jesus." A powerful emotion pervaded th^ spectators, as well as the baptised, during the whole of this solemn transaction. But the joy with which the missionaries contem- plated their little flock, and their pleasing anticipations of a speedy increase of numbers, were soon obscured. Scarcely four weeks had passed since the late 'event. 1739r] AWHVAL OF TWBNTY-QNE BOAT*. 35 when a band of murderers from the north, treacher- ously stab|)ed Kajarnak's brother-in-Iay^ at Kangekf having enticed him out to sea. Their pretence wras, that he had formerly conjured the son of their leader. He indeed tore the harpoon from his body, and fled ta land, but he was overtaken, covered with wounds,, and thrown from the top of a cliff, where ]the body was fbund afler a lon^ search. The assassins havijQg threatened to murder Kajarnak himself, and two niore of bis relations, threw them into nj small panic, but the colonists shortly afler seized the ringleader, with several of his accomplices. He confessed, that besides the present murder, he had killed three Green- landers with his own hand, and been accessary to the death pf as nyany more. Since, however, he >yas amen- able to no liuman judicature, aqd was entirely ignorai;iit of the (jiiviue law, he was dismissed with a severe reprimand } but two of his companions, who had formerly b^en instructed in the word of God, were punisl;iqd yirith flogging. Kajarnak's apprehensions were ra,the^ increased than 4ispelled by a mode of procedure, whicli appeared to blip inore likely to irritate than to awe the Ganders, an4 after much anxiety he declared thai he .thought it his dutv to accompany his brother Qkkomiak, wh^O was most obnoxious to their resentment, to ,hi^ /elatipQS in the south. It was in yain, that the missiq^- ^aries endeayoured tp appease his fears, ^nd prpiuviise^ to board him in their own family, that he miglit not be finder tlie necessity .pf gojng abroad to hunt, l^heir .concern touched h^m to the quick, but he could not resolve to stay, a"d they saw him set out witli heavy (learts. ;In ^ fortnight only two tents of Greenlat^ders were left in the whole country. The solitude >va8 however enlivened after a short interval by (he arrival of twenty-one boats of South- landers, among whom were the friends of Sjmek, one of their late hearers. They had met the fugitves on their way, and lie^d from them wonderfiil tl^ngs pf Go4, in which ^hey were eager ,to be farther in^^ruc^4» They .retprned tl^anks for tl^c kindness ^J 96 THE BRETHREN COLLECT A CONGREGATION. [V/fSQ* shown to their countrymen, particularly fbr reBtorin|^ the wife of Simek to life. The simple fact, which their ignorance invested with so much of the marvellous, was, that the Brethren had recalled her to her senses from a violent fainting fit in child-hirth by the appli- cation of some cordial drops. Simek himself returned with his company towards winter, and he was soon fol- lowed by the greater part of those Greenlanders, who had found a refuge with the Brethren during the severe famine, so that nine families now wintered with them. A party of Southlanders returning from Disko, like- wise called at the settlement. One of these, who thought no Greenland bride worthy of him, came one day when the Brethren were absent from home, with a number of followers, to carry off young Anna Stach b;^ force to be his wife. Fortunately she understood their con^ versation, hurried back into the house and bolted the door. The ruffians afler some fruitless attempts to burst it open, tried to cut through the windows with their knives, supposing them to be made of seal-gut like their own. Their endeavours were of course unavail- ing ; to dash the glass in pieces never occurred to them, and they slunk off threatening to return, when they were not expected. The third day they again made their appearance in greater numbers, but were happily repulsed by our Greenlanders, with the aid of some boatmen from the colony. Having now collected a considerable native congre- gation, the Brethren Could proceed to hold regular hours, morning and evening, for singing hymns and for catechisation. The benencial effects of this arrange- ment were soon perceived. Most of the hearers readily consented to throw away their amulets, and place their confidence alone on God. Still much levity and in- consiancy marked their conduct. At one time they were sleepy and indifferent during the reading of the Scriptures; at anotlier their attention was awake and lively, and they were eager to become pious all at once. Indeed it gave the missionaries no small trouble 1799*] THE BRETHREN COLLECT A CONOREOATION. 57 to impress upon them the evidences and workings of a genuine faith as distinct from mere approbation. Yet It was pieasinfl; to observe the general willingness to be taught ; and the children, in particular, six of whom were formed into a school, gave promise of better times. It ought not to be passed over, that this stirring amongst the Greenlanders had a salutary influence on others, not only proving a source of encouragement to the Danish missionaries, but leading the other Europeans of the colony to profitable reflection. AB I \ CHAPTEK II. I From 1740/0 1747. — Change ofSvttem in the Conduct <^the MUiion, — VitUation. — The Natives toitndrato in Spring — Return qfKajar- nak, toith other exhilarating Occurrences. — Us^ul Service* of the new Converts. — 1741 . — Death ofKajamak. — Visits to the Natives. — Good Understanding subsisting bettveen the Brethren and the Danish Missionaries. — 1742. — Matthew Stach returns Jrom Germany. — A Missionary lost on his Voyage. — Success attending the preaching of the Gospel. — Imperfections of the Believers, — A new Increase of awakened Greenlanders. — 11 4/5.^- Appearances of a general Awakening in the District of Baal*s River. — SingularDream of an Angekok, — Annual Dispersion of the believing Ftock. — FattH Ac- cident.—' Winter Residence toith the Missionaries.— Meetings Jbr reli- gious Worship. — Various Dangers and Ddiverances.^—i'JMt. — Exten- sion oftheGospel. — Plot qfa Band of Murderers defeated. — Arrange- ments Jbr the Summer. — Exclusion and Re-admisston. — Christmas. — l'Ji5..—Spirituai Course qf the believing Flock.— -The Missionary Boehnisch returns from a Visit to Germany. — Casualties. — 1746. — Opposition of the Angekoks.— Excursion to hunt Rein Deer.~— Arrival of the Missionaries, Soerensen and Boemikh 1740. — 1 HE eighth year of the mission was signalized by the important change, which took place in the mode of conducting it. Though the Brethren, as we have seen, had already acknowledged the prin- ciple, that their grand object ought to be «fesus Christ, and their main doctrine the ^purification from sins through his blood, they had not steadily acted upon it; their sincere resolves, according to their own expression, miscarrying in the execution for want of unanimity. Experience had now added its testimony, that the only efficient means of touching the hearts of savages, was not to insist, in the first instance, on such truths as the unity of God, the creation, and the fall ; a method, which though it ap- 1740.] A MEW ASSISTANT ARRIVES. ^ pears in theory to be the most rational that can be adopted, proved, in effect, to be a bar to their con- version \ but to proclaim to them the news of their Creator's assuming humanity, in order to redeem his fallen creatures; and his purchasing and winning them with his own precious blood, and with his inno- cent suffering and dying. This spread and kindled like a fire from the Lord, softened their obdurate minds, illuminated their dark spirits, and infused a vital energy into their torpid hearts. The Brethren therefore resolved to know nothing among the Hea- then but Jesus Christ the crucified, and to confine their future efforts to the simple narrative and pro- fitable application of his liieritorious incarnation, life, sufferings, and death. By their more frequent com- munication with Europe, tfH:v albo shared in that increased clearness, which the Chuich at uome had at- tained respecting the alUsufiScient m^^its of our Redeenier, and could consequently urge the do':trine8 of crace more freely and effecti aJiy upon tht ^Jf««eo- landers. With this year's vessel arrived a new assistant Johei Schneider, and Brother Andrew Grassman, who had been deputed to hold a visitation in Oreenlamd. The eaptain was obliged to land ihem 70 miles from Godhaab, and ail the stores had to be transpoited thither in a boat, at a dangerous risk, from the same distance. Ailer a stay of ten weeks, Andrew Grassman returned to Europe, taking with him the eldest missionary, M. c ^ch, on a visit. In the beginning of iUe year, their labours had an utipromising aspect. Few of their hearers appeared to have a thorough conviction of the truth of:the Gospel ; and mnry opposed themselves to it, especially if they were reproved for any misconduct. As soon as the severity of 't!he winter was past, most of them left the settlement, and the rest followed in April. At taking letive, the Brethren ejihorted them not to for- get wiiat they had heard, but to think of it often, and redeive the offered grace. They parted- in peace. 60 A. YOUNG FEMALE CONVERT. [1740. and some of them were much afiected. The children had become greatly attached to their instructors : they took their reading-books with them, in which the Brethren had written them some prayers and little exhortations. After their departure the missionaries continued their usual visiting voyages to the sur- rounding heathen, though without much immediate benefit. It was a joyful surprise to them to see Kaj'*rnak return after a year's absence, bringing with hiui his brother and his family, which had been the chief mo- tive of his expedition. He stepped unexpectedly into the room, while the cheerful party were celebrating the marriage of the missionary Boehnisch with young Anna Stach. The guests, no less than the Brethren, rejoiced at this first instance of a Greenlander, who had remained faithful, during all the temptations of a re- sidence among his savage countrymen. He said, that he had made known the good news, which he had heard from the missionaries, to the heathens in the South ; that at first they listened to him with plea- sure and M^onder ; but when, after a while, they grew tired, and turned it all to ridicule, he left them undis- turbed, holding converse with the Saviour in solitude, and edifying himself and his family. Towards the end of his stay there, he had felt an ardent longing for the company of his teachers, and could not possi- bly part from them any more. He had left his son for another year among his friends, in the hope that they, too, might be induced to come and hear the Gospel. The return of their first convert was succeeded by other occurrences of a pleasing nature. A young woman had repeatedly importuned them to take her into their service, but as they supposed her to be actuated merely by temporal views, they declined it. After some time she came again, complaining with tears, that she could no longer bear to live among the unbelieving natives, who all hated her, because she would not conform to their customs. Upon this 1740.] PUSSIMEK's rRAYEB. 61 a place was found for her at the colony, where she made such progress in Christian attainments, under the instructions of the Danish missionary, that she was baptized by him before the expiration of, the year. Another young female at New Hermhut, who was deeply impressed with the doctrines of the Gospel, took every opportunity to speak to all who would hear her, of the value of that grace, which had produced so powerful effects upon her own heart. She did not fail to attract contempt and opposition among the rest : they told her that, when they listened to her, and reflected upon the subject, they grew sick, mean- ing that they felt an uneasy sensation, which was dis- agreeable to them. But she replied, that when she was sick, she was made well by prayer* A third most striking instance of the power of divine grace is best related in the words of the Brethren : " In a Greenland house, where all besides were hostile to us, there was a young woman of the name of Pussimek who was very much affected. While we were speaking, she held her hands before her face to hide her tears, and softly sobbed forth: " O Lord 1 let thy light break through the very thick darkness.'* At another time, we saw her kneeling behind a rock, and caught the words : " O God, thou knowest that I ara exceedingly corrupted from our first parents, have mercy upon me !'* When we after- wards asked her why she knelt, she answered : " Be- cause I now begin to believe j 1 pray daily to God to be gracious to me." Being directed to persevere in prayer, she began to weep and to exclaim : «« O Jesus ! my heart is thoroughly depraveil ; make me truly sorry for it^ take away the bad thoughts, and form me ac- cording to thy pleasure. And as I yet know but little of thy word, give me thy Holy Spirit to instruct me." Her companions, very naturally hating the person, whose example" was a constant reproof to them, treated her with a severity quite foreign to the national clia- racter, so much so, that she was glad to take the 612 NORTHLAND£RS ARRIVE. [1740. first opportunity of seeking an asylum with the Brethren. She was never weary of listening to the doctrine of the Cross, and soon began to speak of it to others. No sooner did any heathens come to the place, than she paid them a visit, explained to them the reason of her living here, told them of all the blessings, which she had enjoyed, and of the still greater happiness which she had in view, and her admonitions were not without their effect. Having been prepared for baptism, and made acquainted with the nature and de- sign of that holy ordinance, she declared that she now no longer beHeved, that Jesus was the friend of sinners, because we had told her so, but because she felt it in her own lieart. As we perceived in her a most ardent longing after the blood of sprinkling, and the energy of Jesus* death, she was baptized at her earnest request, and called Sarah. These events excited a new emotion among the Greenlanders, who wished to become as happy as their countrymen. The Brethren took their new converts with them on their visits to the heathen, to convince them, by living witnesses, that the word of the Cross is the power of God unto salvation to all them that believe, and is offeree to renew the heart, mind, temper, and all the faculties. They testified of the grace, which was purchased for all, and of which they now partook, with a frankness and spirit that astonished, and, in many cases, forced conviction upon the savages. An old grey-headed man said, that the name of Jesus was impressed on his heart, and that he was always think- ing Jesuna ! O Jesus ! which he had heard repeated in prayer. Those also who visited the settlement from the adja- cent islands, and from remote places, were generally much affected by the testimony of the baptized Green- landers. A party who came from a considerable distance to the south, and perhaps from the east-side, (for their dialect was not perfiectly intelligible,) listened with sur- prise and eagerness to the account of the crucified 1740.] dEAtH O^ KAJAANAK. 6S J^suis. Many Nofthlftnders also, who pitched their tents with the Brethren for a few days in August, were wonder-struck, when Kajarnak and Sarah gave an account of their conversion. They were ut- terly amazed at their prayers, which they supposed they had learned by rote, and would willingly have done the same ; but they were told, that they must learn to know their misery, and that would teach them how to pray. Towards winter the Brethren began to translate a Harmony of the Four Gospels into Greenlandic, for the use of their little flock. Kajarnak and Sarah rendered them material assistance in this work. They frequently used apt expressions, which no grammatical knowledge could have discovered. Of these the Brethren took par- ticular notice ; and in this manner, after having taught their converts to think, they learned to speak from them. Kajarnak was extremely active in endeavouring to turn his countrymen from their evil ways. As he was once on a journey, he was invited by the natives to dance with them at the sun-feast, and join in the usual fes- tivities on the reappearance of that luminary, but he gave them this answer : " I have now another joy, for a brighter sun, namely, Jesus, has risen in my heart. I must hasten to my teachers to celebrate with them a great festival, in token that the Creator of all things was born into the world as a poor infant for our re- demption." And on this subject, as his brother, who was present, related, he uttered a discourse which com- pletely astounded tliem. 174 1 .] — But the Brethren were not long permitted to enjoy the services of so valuable an assistant in their mi- nistry. Early in the next year, he was called away from this mortal scene, to prove the reality of that blessed- ness, to which his hopes had been so recently directed. The account of his death given by the missionaries is, in substance, as follows : " We had of late devoted our attention particularly to Kajarnak and Sarah, instructing them in all the truths necessary to salvation, as they had greater op- 111 S«' i ?' K A iJ 6i DEATH OF KAJARNAK. [1741. portunities than ourselves for enforcing them upon the natives, and could illustrate them better. Kajarnak twice went out into the country, to tell the heathens something of Jesus, the friend or sinners. , He returned home from his first attempt with a sorrowful heart, for •all he said was laughed at. Soon afler he met with better success in Kangek, where he drew round him a willing and attentive auditory, while he dwelt with peculiar emotion on the merits of the bleeding Recon- ciler, who yielded up his sacred body to such a pain- ful death, that we should no longer employ our mem- bers in the service of sin, but as instruments of right- eousness all the days of our lives. On the 21 st of JPebruary he was suddenly attacked by a cough, at- tended with pleuritic stitches. We spoke to him of the transitory nature of this life, and the necessity of a constant resignation to the will of God. While we were thus addressing him, he grew so faint, that he the impression left upon the wandering Greenlanders, who were frequently convinced, even when they were not converted. Every visit from the missionaries was now hailed with joy by the natives. Mr. Drachart having heard that one of his flock had been drowned at Kangek, the Brethren carried him thither in their boat, and took with them some of their baptized people to bury the corpse, and to tell the heathen something of the death of Jesus, and the happy sleep of believers. They found Arbalik in the house already, busily em- ployed. He was speaking to an attentive company, of faith in Jesus Christ, from whom, though spirit- ually dead bv nature, and without ability to help or save themselves, they might, by believing, obtain life and fulness of joy. Nor need they be perplexed how or for what they should pray ; that would s,fict- 1745.] SINGULAR DHEAM OF AN ANOEKOK. fj wards flow spontaneously from the heart. ** 1, poor creature," he conchided, " have yet but little experi- ence, but here are my teachers, they can tell you. more.** Accordingly, after singing a hymn, they ad- dressed the company on the subject of the Redeemer's incarnation and death. The whole house was affected. *« What strange event is this ?** said they : *« your present discourse affects us in a very different manner from what you were always telling us of God, and the two first parents. We continually said, we believed it all, but we were tired of hearing it, and thought, * What signifies this to us ?' But now we find, that there is something interesting in it." Afler the funeral, an angekok declared his deter- mination to forswear his art ; having been induced to form this resolution by a startling dream. He thought a little child came to him out of Heaven, and bade him follow him. His infant guide first x:onducted him to a very beautiful place, where he heard the most en- chanting singing. Then he took him to a very dark dun- geon, and intimated, that he would go there, if he was not converted. This filled him with inconceivable anguish, especially as he saw numbers of people cast into it. But his conductor led him back again to the agreeable place, and then he gave the people, who were assem- bled there, something white to eat, the virtue of which was to make men cease from evil. Afterwards the assembly began to sing, and he sung with them, which his wife heard, and awoke him from his * dream^ mm ' ■!■. ■■> * We are fiir from laying any stress on extraordinary dreanis» or visions feigned or real of any kind. The power offancy is naturally tery active in the Greenlander, and it is the business of the Ange- koks, in particular, to strengthen it by artificial excitements. In the present instance, several Christian truths which he had heard had doubtless taken hold on the Angekok's imagination ; though the last circumstance cannot thus be accounted for, as the Brethren were certain that neither he nor r y of our Greenlandets had ever heard or seen the least of the Lord's Supper. It can never be proved that God may not condescend to make many singular contingencies •ubeervient to his purpose, and by dreams, among the rest, " with- :i|.:^^ 'I',','-.' ■■>v»| m m 76 FATAL ACCIDENT. [1743?, In this voyage the missionaries were constrained to acknowledge the great loving-kindness of their heavenly Guardian. Those who had opce despised, derided, and abused them, now came to ask pardon ; and even the most untractable in former times, stood along the shores as they passed by, entreating them to land and tell them the words of God.* On their return, the cold was intense: the boat was covered with so thick a crust of ice, that they could scarcely row it, though there were seven of them ; and the spray which dashed over congealed so suddenly, that it would have sunk the vessel, but for their unremitted exertions in lading it out. The dispersion of the little flock, when the necessity of seeking abroad for provisions, drove them from their winter retreat, proved a blessing to the surround- ing country. Yet the Brethren never suffered them to depart, without giving them proper warning of the dangers and temptations, to which they might be exposed. They were like Jacob, when he dismissed Benjamin : they followed them to the strand, entreating them with tears not to lose sight of Jesus who was crucilied, and took leave of them with their benediction. A fatal accident soon called the Brethren to the assistance of their people. A dead cachalot was driven ashore in Konkcemen, and the event was celebrated with the customary festivities by the Greenlanders. Two of the baptized admonished them, not to in- dulge in such boisterous merriment, but to thank God for his gifts instead of abusing them. The barba- rians only laughed at them, and the uproar and tumult were redoubled, when suddenly one of the draiv man from his purpose ;" but we have observed, from frequent experience, that persons thus acted upon seldom arrive at a fixed and solid frame of mind. Accordingly I remarked, that this Greenlander, whom I saw myself, though he led a quiet and irreproachable life, had not yet attained to the enjoyment of the food he saw in his dream, because he still manifested no true hunger and thirst after the right- eousness uf Christ. wi 1743.] DEATH OF NAUAOIAK. 77 revellers fell down lifeless. Others who had eaten of the animal, died on the same day and the next. The Brethren having heard, that the whale was green and blue on the side where it had been wounded, and rightly conjecturing, that the harpoon must have been poisoned, brought with them some drops, which oper- ated as an antidote, and saved several lives.* It was observed, that the eyes of the sick first grew fixed and their tongues white ; then they gradually lost all sens- ation, their bodies swelled excessively, and they died away without any pain. All that had eaten of the green flesh were lost beyond relief, but such as survived tbrty- eight hours, and could vomit, recovered. On this occasion, a woman came to the missionaries bringing on her back her sick son, twelve years old, who, with a faint voice, desired them to tell him some- thing of the Saviour before he died. Their own bap- tized Nauagiak, had also partaken of the fatal meal, and fell a victim to his imprudence. He was uncommonly cheerful during his sickness, spoke with delight of the blessings he had enjoyed in the preceding winter, and expressed his ardent love for his Saviour, and his longing to be soon at home with him. His life, since * It was pi obably wounced and lost by a Spanish whaler, two of which were seen in t je ^'*rait this year. One of these ships ran aground thirty leagues nor'i of Godhaab ; the crew attempted to escape to land in their bcit, but -vere shot, as is supposed, by the arrows of the Greenlaod-jiS, and plundered ; though these latter assert that they found ^.bem famished to death with hunger and cold. Many a ship has sifFered 3 similar fa>'e. Only two years before, the Greeniiinaers had stabbed the crew of a Dutch vessel. They ranged themselves among the sailors, as if they wanted to trade with them, and the sign agreed upon being given, they drew their knives from under their coats, and every one stab- bed his man. At DisJto, they enticed the crew of a smuggler to bring their goods on shore, i^o sooner was the merchandize landed, than a fellow, who was in thr; plot, came running down with intelligence that the Danish factors were on the road. The smug- glers, panic-struck, left all their goods oehind, and fled to their boat ; several of them were killed by a patty stationed in ambush behind the rocks, and the rest of the perfidiou- natives carjied off the whole booty. m:. 78 SINGING SCHOOL ESTABLISHED. [1743. his residence with the Brethren, had been exemplary. No shade of discontent was ever seen to darken his countenance, though he had to suffer many privations ; and he chose rather to stay with his teachers, than to remove to other places where he might have improved his circumstances. His skill in addressing the heathens was not equal to that of others ; but he was well satis- fied to be a disciple on the breast of Jesus. " O, how doth the Lord love the people !** After the funeral, the Brethren hastened away to the islands to visit the rest of their flock. Many strangers called at the settlement on their fre- quent migratory voyages along the coast ; many families also took up their final residence there. Among these was Matthew Kajarnak, who had been bequeathed to the Brethren by his father. Four years of absence among the barbarians in the south had made -him rather wild, but being reminded of his baptism, and of the words of his dying parent, he soon became reconciled to the more orderly and settled habits of the Christian society. A numerous company of Greenlanders were again collected round the mission-house for the winter, and the usual meetings were renewed. A singing-school was also instituted among the female part of the congregation, and the committing of verses to memory was generally encouraged. This custom was found to be of admir- able utility ; and as religious truths were thus instilled into the minds of the Greenlanders, and especially of the children, in an agreeable and easy manner, they presently learned the hymns, and they could with greater freedom ask the meaning of a verse than of a discourse. Our Greenlanders were accustomed, not to a boisterous vociferation, but to a soft, slow, and intelligible mode of singing, which delighted the heathens themselves j and ipany a stranger has been induced by it to stay and hear a discourse, a catechisation, or a chapter of the Bible. The Httle flock of the baptized was augmented in the course of this year by eleven persons ; and the first Christian pair were united in holy matrimony. 1748.] BOEHNISCH RETURNS TO EUROPE. li Several remarkable preservations excited the lively gratitude of our Brethren. Once, when they went oat to search for wood, a contrary stormy wind and snowy weather, kept them prisoners a whole week on a desert island, without a tent to screen them from the piercing cold. No ship havinsf arrived at Fredericskaab, the factor at Godhaab resolved to carry them two boat-loads of provisions, and desired the Brethren to accompany him with their boat. When they were on the point of set- ting out, the factor of the southern colony arrived, which rendered their assistance unnecessary. The same unfriendly storm, which had imprisoned the Bre- thren for a week on an island, beset the factors on their voyage, and overturned one of the boats by its monstrous billows ; two men were drowned, and two, having climbed upon the keel of the boat, floated up- wards of a league in this precarious situation, before the other boat could come to their relief. Happily the Godhaab ship arrived in safety with encouraging litters, and the necessary supplies from Europe. This vessel carried .back the missionary, Frederick Boehnisch on his first visit to the congrega- tions at home. 1744. — The spirit of enquiry afler the truth, which had been diffusedamongthenatives, still continued in progress during this and the following years, and extended even beyond the ordinary reach of missionary visits. Early in March, the feaiale, whose attention had formerly been awakened by Arbalik's account of the woman of Sama- ria, was baptized in Kangek ; the inclemency of the weather preventing her from attending the general baptism at the settlement. She was a very hopeful convert, and endowed with rich gifls both of nature and grace ; but she was exposed to the persecuting malice of a noted Angekok in the island, who was also very inimical to the Brethren, and threatened to fall upon them with his band of murderers, as their ministry among the heathen made alarming inroads upon his trade and credit. Tho same man having ? • '• m- 8P BAD CONDUCT QF AN ANOEKOK. [1744. failed in an attempt to conjure a healthy soul Into a sick child, accused a poor woman of having murdered the ■new soul by witchcraft ; and to avoid being hewn to pieces, the miserable wretch leaped from, a rock into the sea, and was drowned. The demon of revenge, ever so powerfully at work in the breasts of the natives, threatened molestation to the congregation of believers. Among the islanders who visited at New Hermhut, were some who aimed at taking away the lives of several of the baptized, under the pretext, that they were related to the mur- derers of their friends ; but after the guilt of murder, and the injustice of such a mode of revenge had been represented to theiri, they were confronted with the objects of their resentment, and a full and free recon- ciliation was effected. One of these people, named Kainaek, had, some years before, been impressed with conviction by the words of the missionaries. When he was re ninded of this, the tears came into his eyes, and he faultered forth, that he was a miserable, corrupted creature, aud knew very well, that he oijght to be con- verted, but could not, because his inclination led him, in preference, to wander up and down with the savages. After Kuyayak, Kajarnak's brother, had been drowned in coasting to the north, this man undertook the guard- ianship of young Kuanak. Afterwards the poor boy, during one of the paroxysms of a burning fever, wounded Kainaek's wife witli a knife, for which he was beaten most unmercifully. He was brought .to the Brethren as a cripple, and cured by them. The boy now came to Kainaek, and confessed that he had df 'erved the blows j but he advised him and the rest oi them to be converted. They all wept together, and owned that ciiey were wrong. Others of the visitors were the more disposed to pay attention to the missionaries, as they were exceedingly out of humour with an Angekok, who had endeavoured to convince them, that the religion of Jesus was a mere invention of the foreigners j in proof of which he *iMij:itiM [17*4. ) a sick ed the ewn to 3k into it work ition to slanders i aimed aptized, he raur- murder, ad been vith the 3 recon- , named sed with When he jyes, and orrupted ) be con- , led him, savages, rowned le guard- )oor boy, fever, 1 he was .to the The boy he had the rest her, and ed to pay eedingly eavoured us was a 1744.] INTERVIEW WITH THE NATIVES. 81 adduced the death of several of the believers, contrary to what their teachers had declared, that none who be- lieved on the Son of God, should die. Being called to account in their presence, and asked if he had ever heard, that the believers should always remain in this world, he honestly confessed, with a candour, of wliich it would be well, if therq were more examples : " Oh no, I did not understand it so, but because I knew, that I ought to be converted, and yet would not, I in- vented this objection, lest the rest of the people shonld be converted, and I be left alone." He told one of the baptized, that he also was willing to embrace the truth, but was restrained by love for his deceased child- ren and friends, for he could have no joy in heaven, if they were in hell. Thus truth obtained one victory after the other ; and the simple doctrine of the crucified Jesus, plainly set forth, failed not of its wonted effects on the wild- est, hardest, and most hostile hearts. But the Brethren were not slow to exert a due severity towards those, whose audacious profligacy required more rigorous treatment. In May the banditti above mentioned marched to the settlement, at a time, when all the Greenlanders, at least all the men, were absent in quest of game ; and all the Brethren, except M. Stach, were gone to visit them. The following is his account of what passed during this interview : *' My room was crowded, and the rest of the house was filled by those, who could not gain admittance. Though I knew what they liad threatened, I felt no alarm, and went oii quietly with my translation. After sitting some time, their chief said : * We are come to hear something good.* I told him I was glad of it. After singing a verse, 1 prayed that the Lord would open their hearts, to understand what he should give me to say. .1 then proceeded to speak u few words on St. Paul's preaching at Athens. * Yet,* said I, ' I will which he ■ not dwell on this topic, for you know already, that there VOL. If. ' m 12 m ; iji»i, Mv li 1'*^ ' -^'il 8« INTERVUnv WITH THE NATIVES. [I744. is a Creator.' To this they all agreed, with the excep- tion of one man. * You also know that you are wicked people.* They unanimously assented. * Now then I come to the main point, that you and we have a Saviour, the same great Being, who created all things in the be- ginning. He lived upwards of thirty years'^on earth, to instruct and bless mankind, at^er which he was nailed to a cross, and slain by his countrymen, who would not believe his words. But on the third day he rose again from the grave, and afterwards ascended up into heaven. The time is now approaching, when he will come again in the clouds of heaven, and all the dead will rise and appear before him, as the righteous Judge, to receive sentence, every one according to his works. * But thou poor man !* said I, turning to their chief, how wilt thou stand aghast, when all the souls, whom thou hast hurried out of this world, shall step forth and say to Him that sits upon the throne : • This wicked wretch murdered us just as thou hadst sent thy messengers, to publish to us the plan of salvation !' What answer wilt thou then return ?" He was silent, and cast his eyes down to tlie ground. Observing that tremor had seized the whole company, I proceeded : * Hearken to me ; 1 will put thee in a way to escape this tremend- ous judgment ; but delay not, or death will antici- pate thee ; for thou art old. Fall then at the feet of Jesus. Thou canst not see him, yet he is every where. Tell him, that thou hast heard, that he loves the human soul exceedingly, and rejects no one, that cries for grace. Tell him to have mercy on thee, poor miserable man, and wash out tliy sins with his own blood.' He pro- mised with an affected heart, that he would. They all listened with attention to the exhortations of Anna, wliose brother they had murdered, and afterwards walked up and down the place, in a thoughtful mood, and with folded hands j but towards evening the) departed." As many irregularities easily crept in among the Greenlanaers, while dispersed in their fishing parties, fh\ i 74*. 174*0 FIRST CHRISTIAN MARRIAGE. 83 jtcep- icked hen I viour, tie be- lli, to nailed lid not ; again leaven. c again ise and receive ut thou 5W wilt lou hast say to [ wretch ngers, to , answer cast his , tremor Hearken •remend- 11 antici- feet of •y where. le human br grace, ible man, He pro- They all pf Anna, [f'tevwards ioughtfnl fning the) long the ig parties, an arrangement was made, that all the baptized women and children who had no protector, should be accom- modated in the tents of some baptized heads of families. One of their teachers accompanied them this season, that they might not remain too long without instruction. In this service ho had also frequent opportunities of speaking with the unconverted natives. Once when he went out to procure some food, two little girls fishini^ upon the ice called to him, and said that they were highly pleased, when they saw him coming, and now he should stay a little with them, and leave his partridge- shooting, to tell them something of our Saviour, especi- ally as they could not visit him at his house. When the former course of spiritual instruction was resumed in the winter, one man openly declared his aversion to that free reii^ous conversation, which was [encouraged by the missionaries; for he neither could nor would believe any thing he heard here about God; there was no God, but every thing came of it- Iself, and would always remain as it was. His answer |to all remonstrances was, tbat he would never alter the )pinions he had once embraced, but go the same v;ay, ^hich his fkthers had gone before him. This frantic speech proceeded from the disquietude of a heart agi- tated by an ineffbctual struggle to stifle the work of jrace. Thus when he once went unawares to hear a liscourse on the words : " The wages of sin is death,** iher sitting for some time in extreme restlessness, he [t length rose up and ran away. The desire of the Greenlanders for the word of God ^as continually increasing, and many seals of their mini- try called forth the warmest joy of the Brethren, excit- ig them anew to spend themselves freely in this blessed, srvice. Three children of believing parents were born, |ut only one of them was at present baptized, whose irents Arbalik and Sarah begged for it, and promised take good care of its education. They were the rst couple united according to the Christian ritual, G 2 ''■"^j,' • '■' •■(,;*.• if^-i ''i:' t! ■ ■"■(■I.: ■il fc 8i fCMCIinATlON' OF CliniATMAS. [1744. i7^ M J*' 1 1'! ': And their child wus the first baptized by the Bre- thren. The niisHionarics had i^ade it a rule, not to force the sacraments upon the Gree landers, but to wait till they earnestly desired them ; and they revolted from the thought of seeing heathens baptized they knew not why, roving about wild. But they received an admo- nition on tiiia head ; ai I when they afterwards found, that their people faitiitt.lly adhered to their baptismal promise, they became less scrupulous in administering this ordinance to the children of believers. Solomon, one of the baptized, entered this year into the eternal mansions, as a sinner that had found grace. Hii: luihlameable conduct had occasioned the Brethren much joy ever since his baptism, until this spring, when he relapsed into sin, was excluded from the iellowship of the believers, and left the settlement. One of the teachers, however, meeting with him a fortnight after this event, took him aside, and encouraged him to apply to Jesus for mercy, assuring him, that there alone he could find a refuge from all sin, all error and evil. On this his heart grew tender, and he shed a flood of | tears. He returned with his tent to New Hermhtit in good health, but fell sick the very next night. As he v.'as evidently fast approaching to his end, and was i very penitent for his transgression, he was again received into the congregation. Then he declared, that he was ready to depart into the eternal state, and told all I who visited him, how greatly he desired to be wit Jesus. The two congregations of the Brethren and of Mr. I Di achart united in the festive celebration of Christmas : hymns were sung appropriate to the festival, andaj discourse was held on the lowly birth and deep conde- scension of the Creator of all things. The Green- landers were afterwards heard to say : " O how manyl nights have we spent in heathenish revelry, but we havel hitherto been utter strangers to delights like these !" J 174 J. — Encouraged by the happy effects which seemed tor thoi floe the thin, this of til shorl had I licly di^c oppoi situat Jfi were rate n meetii nature that ti pardoi offend( sometil to him forgive ders scanda consec were t< be exc that their t< rence, make i Not^ '•ejoice least, one of I several! occasic c \ 17*'50 SPIRITUAL I'ROGRESS OF THE NATIVES. 85 to result from these Christmas solemnities, tlie Hretliren thought it would be conducive to the welfare of their flock, to notice more particularly the general feasts of the Church, in commemoration of the great and good things, which the Lord has done for his people. In this view, they read on such memorial days, the history of the respective events from the Bible, and made some short explanation and application. If the Grecnlandcra had not rightly understood the subject, when thus pub- licly propounded, th ' came aflerwards to have their difhcultics resolveci mh\ this also afforded an excellr.t opportunity to the ist (4 ■t ;'|.'v": IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) i*,^ 1.0 IfiaBi L^ lis 122 IHIIOO I.I ::. "I"^ IHII^B |i.25 |l.4 1.6 6" A Ya /}. /a ^A 7 Photographic Sciences Corporation 33 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MSSO (716) 872-4503 «3 S6 INTeRGOUBSe with THI^ ORSSNLANDEilS. f 174JI. (What was most dear and valuable to them? One said : * That ouf Saviour has chosen me out of the world, and so frequently permits me to feel that he Ioyl'S me.' Another said: < Because I api yet so ignorant, I wishtoleam the words of salvation rightly, 'and to keep them in my heart.* A third subjoined : < Once I was also extremely eager for knowledge, and thought that eveiy thing wcmld^be right if I could but learn much. But when I found, that with all my know- ledge, the sufferings of Jesus were still foreign to me, sometimes even the object of my contempt and aver- sion, I was shocked at myself, and saw that I must be converted anew : now nothing is so estimable tome, as his blood.' The last said : * With this I. am yet unacquainted ; I am still choaked with cares for a live- lihood, and though they avail me nothing, I cannot extricate myself from them.' On another occasion, a person acknowledged, that he bad gone among the savages soon afler his baptism, which made him unsejjb- tled and vain. * When my heart told me, I should go to my teachers, and lay open my heart, I persuaded myself, that it would be to no purpose, for they could not help me; nor could I adhere to their directions; therefore it would be better for them not to know my situation. Thus my heart grew colder and harder. Now it gives me pain, and I beg our Saviour to soften my heart with his blood.' " In truth, this intercourse with the wild Greenlanders, which still could not be well avoided, was no small trial to these weak beginners. For as the savages were too grossly ignorant, to be able, like other Pagan nations, to oppose the trutn by some plausible and con* nected system of their own, they held out the bait of sensual gratification, and tried, by every kind of allure- ment, to seduce the believers to join their revels. The latter were sensible of the danger, and now felt as much alarm as they, at first, felt pleasure, at the thoughts of a trip to the heathen. In one of their autumnal -stations, the savages offered part of their 'house to the 174^0 BOEHNISCH RETURNS FROM OERMANT. . 87 roost eminent of the new converts j but he perceived their artifice, and civilly declined the invitation. They next attempted to inveigle him into pleasures of various kinds'; and when this lure was found equally inefiectual with the former, they proffered him several of their things, if he would give them his company but for a single time. He felt an inclination to acc^pt the present, as the offered articles were such as he greatly needed at the moment, but he instantly recollected himself, and refused them. At length they went away, telling him that he carried matters quite too ^r, and that at this rate they could have no communication at ail with the baptized. The Brethren visited their people from island to island, as often as circumstances would permit. The latter were always glad to see them, and had generally a store of questions ready for them to resolve. A party, however, whom they met with in tlie Kookoernen, owned that they had engaged in pagan diversions with the unbelievers, and on that account felt ashamed before them and their brethren. In one place the heathen told the missionaries, that a man who had some time ago been in the habit of visiting the settle^ ment, had recently died, declaring in his last moments, that he was not afraid of death. The Brethren ex- plained to them the reason why believers need not fear death, but may rejoice when they put off the garment of flesh. On another island, a conjuror had brought the heavy charge against the believers of scaring away the sea-fowl, by their new doctrine and mode of life, after he had released them from their submarine prison. In the summer, Frederick Boehnisch returned from Germany. On his journey thither two years ago, he was intercepted by a party of the military, who wisiied to press him into the service, and was detained for several weeks. His meek stedfastness not only won him the favor of many of the officers, but even gave rise to serious reflection in some minds, both amongst the o 4 88 BRETHREN DELIVERED FROM WATER. [17^* officers and common soldiers. They furnished him v^ith a memorial to the general, and the Abbot Stein- metz, interesting himself strongly in his behalf, a dis- charge was obtained. On the day before he set out on his return, he received ordination, and then embarked in one of the Dutch whalers, with Captain Idze Alders, who made him his chaplain during the voyage. He was on board the ship the whole time of the whale fishery in Disko Bay, and was to have been set ashore vXGodhaah, on the return of the vessel. But as a strong south wind, which commonly choaks the bays with ice, sprung up while they were ten leagues distant from the colony, he chose to land directly, though there was a thick fog ; and the ship was obliged forth- with to put ofi* to sea. The Greenlanders conveyed him in safety to his Brethren. The whole inlet was soon so clogged with ice, that the inhabitants could neither go out nor in. July 19th, there was however an opening sufficient for the Danish ship to run in, though with great danger. In this vessel there arrived two single sisters, of whom the one was married to the missionary John Schneider, and the other to Mr. Drachart, who had requested a help-mate from the Brethren's congregation. John Beck embark- ed in this ship for Europe, taking with him his two children, as it was now sufficiently evident that the missionaries could not give them a suitable education among the Greenlanders. At the end of the year the congregation, of whom eighteen were newly baptized, consisted of fifty-three persons. The Brethren were twice delivered from danger by water. In May, when every thing was frozen, and the "^rth covered with snow, they were startled one mc ^g by a noise, like the roar of a tempest. The house was instantly full of water. They ran out to divert the stream, supposing it to pVoceed from the melting of the snow, but all without was solid as marble. In the space of an hour the water was gone, and then they found that it had gushed from the 1745.] AUTIFICES OF THE ANOEKOKS. 89 earth like a brook, both in the dwelling house and store- house : this phenomenon was never repeated. It was just flood tide, at full moon, and .the brooks and springs of Greenland are then subject to an uncom^non attrac- tion. In August, when the missionaries went out to hunt game, and at the same time to carry some pro- visions to their absent Brethren, they were inclosed by the ice, in a thick mist. They had, however, just time enough to leap upon the frozen mass, and draw their boat up afler them. In this cold retreat they spent four hours, when the ice opened so far, that they could make their way through. 1746. — The general commotion among the savage? now began to subside, but on the other hand the little flock of believing Greenlanders increased continually. Many whose hearts bowed to the force of conviction, repaired to their Christian countrymen, to share in the happiness, of which they were still destitute. Others, unwilling to yield up their hearts to their Creator, and goaded by a restless conscience, wandered up and down amongst the savages, endeavouring by fraud or force to prevent others from listening to the truth. And others again were undetermined, which side they should espouse. Against such irresolute minds the Angekoks exerted all their artifices, whether of temptation to allure, or of terror to intimidate. A strange Angekok came to Kangek, and warned the people against giving ear to the Christians. He pretended, that he had made a journey to heaven, to examine into the state of the souls there ; he found all the baptized in a wretched condition, without food and clothing, but the unbaptized lived in great afiluence. A dreadful story was also propagated of a baptized Greenlander, who having died at the northern colony, had appeared again quite naked, and said that he had been driven into a dark and dismal hole, where he endured great misery. Those who wished to find excuses for their unbeliefj gave credit to these tales, and added that such punish- 6 llBf ' ' u.'tiHi ''1^9 90 A HUNTING DIART. [1746. meats were inflicted on them by the foreigners, in revenge for the murder of their ancestors. The Eu^ ropeans, who were at present settled among them» did them indeed no bodily harm, but tried .to make them unhappy by their new opinions and usages. But the eflect of these forgeries was very trifling. In proportion as the baptized became sensible of the benefits of daily instruction, and the detriment arising from their dispersion, they habituated themselves the more readily to the social order of civilized life, being convinced, that the external regulations established by their teachers, were intended to subserve their real prosperity, not for any purpose of arbitrary restraint. When they were obliged to go on the angmarset fishery, amon^ the islands, they kept together as much as pos* sible in one place ; and if their absence was likely to be of some continuance, one of the Brethren accom- panied them. With the reader's permission, we will, on this occa4 •ion, introduce one of their hunting-diaries. <* Sept. 3. Some Greenlanders set out to hunt rein- deer, and as we did not choose to let them go alone, I (Matthew Stach) went with them. A violent boye or squall from the south, assailed us in the fiord, and drove our boats asunder. I was obliged to steer before the wind straight into the fiord, as the adjacent coast presented nothing but steep rocks. Yet, in spite of our efibrts, we were hurried close to a high bold shore. The current was rapid, and the lofty surges dashed together so furiously, that we thought ourselves cer- tain of a watery grave. The wcmien's boat writhed in the billows like a worm. But in a quarter of an hour all was hushed into a perfect calm, so that we could row on four or five miles. We pitched our tents in Okeitsuk to wait for the two boats, which were missing. We were completely drenched with rain. '< The 4th, the two separated boats were still pre- vented by strong winds from gaining the station. They came up, however, the next day, having likewise beeu 1746.] SUCCBfS IW FI8HEBT. M in imminent danger, especially little Matthew, who could not keep up with the others, in his kajak. The waves washed awa^ his seal-bladder, and while en- deavouring to regam it, he lost his oar; so that he was forced to paddle back with his hands, till he could again lay hold of it. *< On the 6th, the rain and wind kept us prisoners in our tent, and continued with little intermission on the 7th. In the evening I read a chapter of St. John'v Gospel. Before retiring to rest, we had a lively coO' versation on the subject of love to Jesus, and the brotherly love, >which must of necessity spring from the former. ** The 8th, as the weather was rather more favour* able, we continued ourcourse, and met with Tettamak^ the northern Angekok, and his people, who.wislied to live with us. <* During the three succeeding days the wind was very tempestuous, and it rained heavily. The morning meetingwas attended by theNorthlanders, who were very attentive. Tettamak, an Angekok and ^ murderer, beg- ged me afterwards to come to his tent and tell him more of what was good, since he had already forgot much. I therefore related to him once more, what I had said of the Redeemer, and concluded with telling him, that much might be added about this Jesus, if the time allowed it. •Then,* said he, *give me leave to live with you this winter, that I and my children may hear more of it.' *< The I^th we went a hunting. IkiUedtwo rein- deer, and gave one to the Greenlanders, who 'were unsuccessful. I shot another the next day. On the 15th, we went to Kanneisut, but we had scaricely pitched our tents, wbeii so violent a storm arose, that we could scarcel>y k«ep our boats and tents from being carried away by its fury. We staid tliere till the 19th^ •when we returned home, cheerful and well" Unwonted success attended the Greenlanders in their fishery, but the internal course -of the congregation was i m 9« A VERT TEMPESTUOUS YEAR. [1746, not so satisfactory, as the missionaries could have wish^ ed. On their return to their winter habitations, how- ever, most of them came of their own accord, and con- fessed their deviations with an open heart, so tfiat their teachers knew not whether they had more reason to grieve or rejoice over them. It was indeed necessary to exchide some for a time from the assembly of the baptized; but as they humbled themselves and re* formed, the^ were re-admitted before the ensuing spring. This affair operated beneficially on the rest of the baptized, and a new life appeared to be infused into their public meetings. At the earnest desire of many, the singing hours were begun again, which had been intermitted, on account of their langour ; for it is a principle *among the Brethren, to set aside even & useful institution, when it no longer answers its end, or degenerates into a mere custom. An unbaptized woman, who was discarded as a seducer, returned a few weeks after her dismission, and begged the mis-1 sionaries with suppliant tears, to receive her again. •* It is true," said she, "^ I am yet void of grace, and have merely gleaned a little outside knowledge lately ; but still I cannot bear to stay among the heathen : the disquietude of my heart follows me every where, and embitters all my pleasures ;. and the revilings, which I must daily hear against you and the believers, are intolerable to me." The poor woman was admitted upon a new trial. This was a very tempestuous year, and the mission- aries, as well as the Greenlanders,. were several times involved in circumstances of imminent danger. Two Brethren, who had gone out to seek wood, were once wind-bound eight days oa a desert island, several leagues from home, and had to bear the brunt of three hard storms, without a tent to cover them. Yet in all this boisterous weather, onl^ one Greenlander, called Gideon, was drowned, being overset in his kajak. It was observed, that he was never perfectly cheerful, but that there was always something pensive and shy in him, though no stain of immorality appeared in 1746.3 ADDITIONAL ASSISTANTS. 99 bis conduct. In his funeral discourse, the Green- hnders were urged to seek a true acquaintance with Jesus, that they might lead a life of uninterrupted happiness ; and if called suddenly out of this woria, as so many of their countrymen were, might be found ready to enter with perfect joy into the presence of their Lord. The melancholy accident, and its plain comment, caused considerable emotion amongst them all. The continual increase of the flock of Greenlanders, and the consequent augmentation of labour, rendered some additional assistants necessary. John Soerensen and Christian Boernike were nominated to this office. They engaged with a whaler, Capt. Idze Alders, and in the short space of ten days after their sailing from the Texel, tliey came in sight of Cape Farewell. April ^th, they reached the latitude of Godhaab, but did not dare to approach the land on account of the stormy weather, and were therefore obliged to go 60 leagues farther north, as high as W)rde-bay, before they could leave the vessel. The captain desired them to wait for another opportunity, as he feared they would be murdered by the savages on the coast, who bore a bad character j and no colonies were yet planted in that district : but as the weather was serene, they ventured out in their own boat, which they had bought in Holland, and coasted southward under the shore. In the evening, however, as they were cr v^ning a broad creek, a strong east-wind suddenly spruig up, and threatened to drive them out into the wide ocean. By dint of rowing they succeeded, after much fatigue, in reaching a lonely island, on which they sjpent two days and three nights in their wet clothes, suffering under a severely cold atmosphere. What greatly aggravated their distress was, that in lightening their boat during the storm, they had by mistake thrown overboard their implements for striking fire. They had a scanty por- tion of bread and cheese, and some bottles of wine ; but as the cold froze and burst them, they were forced to eat snow. At night they lay in a hole dug in the snow, i 04 TWO AflSntA'MTS AR1II¥B. [1746. <:oTering themselves with the sail of their boat. April 10th, they could again set sail, and passed Bruvne Bay 4indthe Kin of Saal, and on the night of the ISth^ came to the first Greenland house in Omenak, which was inhabited by ibrtv persons* Thev were received with the utmost friendship, and feastea with fish and water. But as this territory is infamousfbr several murders committed on navigators, they watched by their boat all night. The next day they touched at Naparsok, where they again met with a hospitable reception firom the natives. After being once mOre endangered by a strong south-wind, they arrived on ,the 18th in N.w Hermhut, to the glad surprise of their Brethren. 9.5 CHAP. III. From 1747-- 1751. — Progrett qf the Gospel. — Introduction ^ the Holy Communion, — Erection tf a nem Church. — Division iff the Congregation into Companies. — Institution of a Singing School. — • 1748. — Benighted State of the Heathen Greenlanaers. — Hazard- ous Joumiest and Instances of the Divine Protection, — Entrance into the New Year. — Rescue of a Woman out of the Hands of the Natives, — Return qf Christian Damd to Europe. — n^,—' Arrival ^ SoutfUanders, — Kajarnak's Brother is atoakened. — Cdehration ^ Easter. — Return of Matthew Stach with the Greenlanders after- their Visit in Europe. — Some Account qf their Journey.— Arrange^ ments concerning Single Women, — Murder of Nathan, — 1750, — Keen Frost, and consequent Distrest, — Fisits qfthe Nathes,— TransAr of the Greenland Trade to the Company of Merchants. — - New Regulations. — Remarkable Occurrence tn the Life of a Femtde Greenlander. — 1751. — Blessed State j^ the Mission,— Willocks, — Arrival of the Missionary Beck. — Casualties and Disorder dur- ing the Herring Fishery. — Death of Mrs. Drachart. — Resignation a/^Mr. Drachart,— Cordiality between the Brethren and the Danish Missionaries, 174«7. — In the course of the preceding narrative our readers must have observed with pleasure, how the sound of the Gospel was propagated by the missionaries of the Brethren through a vast extent of country, and its glad tidings spreadstiiJ farther by the savages themselves. Mockery, reproach and persecution were not want- ing. The heathen, indeed, had framed no false system to oppose to the truth of Revelation, nor had they hired any heathenish priests to support them in error ; how* ever, there were Angekoks, who, dreading the loss of their reputation and the profits accruing from impos- ture, invented a variety of means to dissuade their silly adherents from adopting the truth. But their efforts 96 PROGRESS OP THE GOSPBL. [17*7. were feeble, and unable to withstand the divine power of the Word. The operation of the Spirit of God was very per- ceptible in the little company of the baptized, and though distressing circumstances occurred, yet, on the whole, there was great cause for joy and amazement at the transformation of a wild brutish set of people into a quiet, well-ordered family of Christians* In the public meetings, the divine emcacy of the Gospel was powerfully manifested. Also at small assemblies for devotion, incidental conversations, and especially when baptism was administered, that promise, where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them, was abundantly verified. Besides, the improvement of the talents perceived in some of the baptized for declaring to others the fruits of their experience, together with their unexceptionable deport- ment, accredited the doctrine of the atonement, and added great weight to the testimony of the misi- sionaries. Finally, the happy departure of a number of Green- landers evinced, tnat tiie labours of the Brethren had not been devoid of success. £ven some of the un- baptized had benefited so much by the preaching of the Gospel, that, at the close of life, they could breathe their last, if not with perfect joy, yet free from th6 fear of death. Notwithstanding all this, an essential requisite for a true Christian congregation was still wanting to the company of believing Greenlanders, namely, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. The Brethren had hitherto hesitated to suffer the Greenlanders to parti- cipate in this privilege. For although they acknow- ledged, to the praise of God, the grace displayed in the conduct of some of the baptized, yet the frequent vicis- situdes incident to the life of a Greenlander, caused a secret diffidence to arise, whether the permanency of their communion with our Saviour could be depended on. However, in the course of the last year, all material objection appeared to be removed. Several individuals 17'1(70 A CHUnCH SENT TO GREENLAND. 97 among the baptized manifested such a deep knowledge of their own sinfulness, such an unshaken confidence in the merits of their Redeemer, and sticli a heartfelt attach- ment to their brethren, that at the close of this year, the missionaries were encouraged to permit the three first Qreenlanders to partake of the Holy Communion. The baptized and catechumens also showed less repugnance to a permanent settlement in one place, without which no lasting fruit or proper order could be expected. This change in their sentiments was partly owine to their becoming more sensible of the love, which their teachers bore them ; since, notwithstanding the accumulation of labour, one of the Brethren always devoted his time to their service, went out to sea with them, and visited them in their habitations, in order to take all possible care both of their temporal and spi- ritual welfare. When they removed to their winter -dwellines, great difficulties arose in various ways for want ot room, partly on account of the new regulations enfoiced by the Brethren. The latter had, indeed, en- larged their habitation, but it was still too small for the reception of their congregation. On this account, they were for some time reduced to the necessity of holding public discourses and baptisms in the open air, which was veryinconvenient both for teachers and hearers, as in case of unfavourable weather, they were obliged either to drop the meetings, or keep them in separate houses. How- ever, this defect was shortly after remedied by the erection of a spacious hoUse and church, which was brought about in the following manner. The accounts hitherto received from Greenland had caused so much joy in all the Brethren's congregations, and the complaints of the missionaries had such an effect upon the synod held at Zeyst, that some wealthy members resolved to get a large timber-house framed in Holland, under the direction of the missionary John Beck, and sent it to Greenland in a ship commanded by Captain Gerrisen. Some Brethren voluntarily offered to go thither in order to set it up, and the old venerable Christian David also joyfully seized the op» VOL. II. u '•.*:*.!•• ':^jr 98 A NEW CHURCH CONSECRATED. D7*?. Eortunity to accompan v them, in the capacity of master uilder. He had built the first hut tor the Brethren in Greenland, and the first school-house for the Green* landers, and little expected, when leaving the country, that the former would ever be inhabited, or the latter grow too small. He therefore prized his good fortune, to witness the accomplishment of this work of God* Their voyage as far as Cape Farewell was expedi- tious, but in Davis's Straits, in consequence of contrary winds, storms, thick fogs, and floating ice, they were forced to beat about nearly four weeks, and did not make the harbour till June l@th. Matthew Stach and John Schneider returned in the vessel to Europe, after being present at the laying of the foundation stone of the new house. The building was carried on so expeditiously, that the walls were completed on the 7th of August, and notwithstanding a heavy snow, which fell in this and the preceding month, so much was got under cover on September l6th, that the Holy Communion could be kept in one of the rooms, with the Greenlanders. Owing to the dispersion of the latter in the fishing season, the two remaining teachers were obliged, fre- quently to delist from their work to visit them. Most, however, did not neglect to come to the missionaries, and were filled with joy, that they should shortly have a church. Indeed, the rumourof a house of dimensions hitherto unknown in Greenland, allured many of the natives to the spot, and the Brethren gladly embraced the opportunity to preach that gospel to them, for the public declaration of which, they took paint to erect so large a building. On the l6th of October, the new church was con- secrated. The missionary, John Beck, preached a sermon on the occasion, and among other things re- minded his auditory of the unpromising aspect of affairs in the beginning of the mission, when the most that could be done was, to pray behind the rocks with tears to the Father, in the name of his Son, for the con- version of the Greenlanders. That those prayers were 17*70 GttEENLANDERS IN SIX HOUSEi. 99 heard, he addecT, was attested by the appearance of the present Greenland congregation. That the Lord had done more for them, than it had ever entered into their minds to pray for; for that through the medium of their kind Brethren in Europe, he had given them a church, where, with the ])ermission of their most gracious sove* reign Frederic V., they could meet together for the preaching of the gospel, for solemnizing the sacraments* and for the enjoyment of many blessings, which were still treasured up for them in the heart of Jesus. The Greenland brother, Jonathan, concluded the service with an affecting prayer. In the second discourse in the afternoon, held by Frederic Boehnisch, holy baptism was conferred upon three Greenlanders, Martin, Hannah, and£leonora. The third meeting was a love-feast, in which the Green- landers testified their joy and gratitude, and in*the fourth, Greenlandic hymns were sung, intermixed with German and Danish, as most of the sailors from the colony were present. In all the solemnities of the day such a spirit of brotherly love, and such a strong perception of the ^ivine presence pervaded all present, that at the close they seemed unwilling to separate, and when they rose up, all confessed with one accord : " Surely the Lord, is in this place." In the night Margaret, the wife of Thomas, was de* livered of a son. She had been present at most of the meetings on the preceding day, and came early in the morning to the missionaries, entreating for the baptism of her child, which was accordingly performed im- mediately. It was called Simon. Margaret was pre- sent, and no one unacquainted with the circumstance, <:oiild have perceived that she was the mother. " The number of our Greenlanders," write the mis- sionaries, "who live in six large houses, amount to upwards of a hundred and eighty, and those at the <:oIony to more than a hundred, so that when the latter visit us, there are generally about three hundred persons an our chapel. October §Oth, those who live with us. H Wv i f a: 100 ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX BAPTIZED^ [1747* 'were divided into thirty companies. Nine men were appointed to preside at these small assemblies of their sex ; and fifteen females at those of the women. All riejoiced at the regulation. The new people were thankful, that thev were included, and it was evident that blessine rested upon it." A school was begun for the instruction of those, who appeared to have any talent for singing ; and as two of the Brethren, who came to assist at the building, understood somethingof music, they taught a few Green- land boys to play some tunes by ear, by which means, the singing of the Greenland congregation was ren- dered more lively and agreeable. Two Brethren, also, from among the natives, were chosen to hold a dis- course now and then y at which however one of the teachers was alwavs to be present. These two assist- ants, and a married woman, were the first, who were favoured to partake of the Holy Communion. Upoi^ being told, that they should soon be admitted to this favour, they were so overcome with shame and joy, that they could only declare their willingness to devote soul and body anew to the service of their Saviour, and wait with child-like hearts to experience, how glo- riously he would reveal himself to ttiem at this cbset felhxDshipi as they called it. On the preceding day they were confirmed with imposition of hands, and during their enjoyment of the Lord's Supper, they were so overpowered, that the tears rolled down their cheeks abundantly. They declared aflerwards, that it was, as if their bodies would sink into the dust, and their spirits fiy upwards, and that their only thought was : ** Oh, how is it possible, that our Saviour can love poor men so exceedingly I" The congregation was increased this year by fifly- two persons, who were added by holy baptism ; and at the close of the year, it consisted in all of 126 bap- tized, exclusive of eight, who had departed to the church above, since 17^1. One of these, called Noah, when on his death-bed in the year Yl^^t prayed hearti- ly for the conversion of his brother. The latter after- 1748.] F£W VISITS OF 6REENL ANDERS. lOL wards came to the settlement and was baptized this year. His sister had joined us the }[ear before^ On the other hand Rosma, Noah's widow, who had since his death, lived chiefly among the heathen witb her mother, lost the srace which she had once'expeA^ rienced, and was at last prevailed upon to quit tiii» part of the country, and remove farther to the south. Her daughter Elizabeth, whom she had lefl with the missionaries to be educated, was shortly after, stolea away by some of her mother's relatives. This incident was the more distressing, as this little girl was not only baptized, but the most agreeable of all the Greenland children ; and when catechised, often astonished the missionaries by her correct and affecting answers. Only one couple were married. Three of the baptized died, one of whom was the infant son of Kajarnak, which had been baptized the day before its departure. 1748. — Meanwhile the darkness, which hung over the heathen Greenlanders, seemed to thicken, in proportion as the light among those under the tuition of the Brethren increased. The missionaries frequently visit- ed them, but found no ears to hear; and to some they had not courage to speak at all. The reasons alleged for their unwillingness to accept the ofier of grace were various. One woman declared, that the water of life was a refreshment to her, but that she was not able to retain it, her heart being like a vessel full of holes, which let every thing run through. On this subject one of the missionaries writes : " Oh, how are we abased on account of the grace imparted to our Greenlanders ! Defective as some of them are, yet the difference between them and the savages is unspeakably great." As long as the heathen had plenty, and could live according to their appetite, few came to visit the Brethren. But in spnng a long continuance of un- favourable weather drove many to apply to theii be- lieving countrymen for assistance, and furnished ther H 3 toi THX HBKRIMG FISHKRY. [1748- missioofU'ies with an opportuiuty to declare to them the unspeakable riches of the kingdom <>f God. Some- times a voice within : ** Make ri^^te and rescue thy soulf" would impel a young mind, to forsake father and mother, and follow Jesus. If the parents came, and attempted by promises and threats to prevail upon their children to return, the JSrethren left both parties at full liberty; neither persuading any one to stay, nor suffering any one to be carried off by violence, who wished to reside in the settlement, from a sincere desire to be converted. In the beginning of spring, when the Greenlapders resorted to the islands, the missionaries, when visiting their own people, had frequently an opportunity to address the heathen ; and our Greenlanders, who as- sembled for edification in the absence of their teachers, of);en brought the latter the joyful news, that strangers attended their meetings, and expressed th#ir inten- tions to join the congregation. \ The journies of the n^issioharies were, particularly in this vear, attended with great hazard. In May continual south winds drove large quantities of floating ice towards the land, and into all the bavs, which remained blocked up for a whole month. The Brethren on their return fron^ K^ookQe^nen were 90 bepimed in by two large sheets of ice near their dwell- ing, that their deliverance is only to be ascribed tP a ipiraculpus providence. A few days after the Greenlanders ventured to go in seventeen boats and several kaj^k^ on the herring fish' ery, and Frederic Boehnisch accompanied them. After running various risks for the first four leagues* they had open sea. But in a short time it was filled with ice and the women's boat, in which the missionary s»1f, with some Greenlanders, was crushed between two masses. They hastily jumped but on a circular piecQ of ice, which was whirled round under their feet. AH however vfere so fortunate as to get on another iheet, which l(iy near it, from whepqe their companions rescued them in a short time. Towards WhitsunUde 1748.] SEAL FISHERY UNPRODUCTIVE. 108 a high wind opened the ice so much, thatthe missionary attempted to work his way through it, and effected his object with much toil. The other boats were dispersed, and did not return till Whit-Monday, though none had been damaged. Some merchants, who were out on the blubber trade, were detained six weeks, in continual danger and want of provisions, and two post-kajaks from the south colony brought in- formation, tnat all the coast was beset with ice, for one hundred and twenty leagues southward. Besides these, there were many other occasions for praising the good Shepherd, for holding his faithful hand over the Greenlanders. An old baptized man was pur- sued by some murderers, a report having been spread, that he had killed a child by sorcery, fiut he made his escape, and was brought by his companions to the teachers, in safety. During the winter many were overtaken by a squall, so that they were obliged to work their way in their kajaks, more under the waves than on the surface, and necessitated to shelter themselves from the piercing cold, by covering themselves with snow, on an uninha- bited island, whereby most of them were much frost* bitten on their face and hands. In March, another was separated from his companions by the floating ice, and did not get home till six days after. Not being able to make way either backwards or forwards, he had crept upon the ice, but it broke. He then rowed between the pieces, and at last, after much labour, arrived at an uninhabited island, where he was obliged to remain three days and nights, in the severest cold. Soon afler the Greenlanders had removed into their winter houses^ which were raised with stone and earth ; the roofs were so soaked through with rain, that most of them fell in, without however doing any serious injury to the inhabitants. The seal-flshery was this year not very productive ; but some of the Greenlanders, on their return from a visit to Kangek, were so fortunate as to meet with a dead cachalot. It was nine fathoms long, and two in thick- ness. Near three hundred people from the firethrens' 4 r/jj'j ~i H 10^ FiftEEN COMMUNICANTS. [VJ^ t settlement and the colony, were employed three day» in separating the blubber from the flesh, which the Greenlanders are fond of eating ; and they thanked God for his gifts. Before this incident, they had removed into their win- ter quarters, and had brought several new families from difierent places, so that in October, the number of inha^ bitants in the settlement, amounted to two hundred and thirty. To these were added, towards the end of the year, several, who had been led to serious reflections concern^ ing their state, at the time of the awakening in Katt' gek, eight years before ; whence it appeared, that when the Gospel has once taken root in the heaits even oi' ignorant savages, it seldom ceases to grow and flourish, till it has produced the fruits of righteousness. With these people they renewed the private meet- ings for edification, and eyident blessing rested upon their endeavours. By continual practice they learned ' to know, which truths they ou^ht, in general, chiefly to inforce, and how to adapt their expressions to the ca- pacity of each individual. We shall add some reflections of the mi^ionaries, at the close of the year, on the grace resting on the bap- tized and communicants of their congregation, for to insert all their expressions of joy would cause needless prolixity. ** This evening, (the last in the old year) we had an ocular demonstration, that our Saviour has owned our testimony. At the close of the discourse, the names of thirty-five persons were read, who have been baptized this year, and can declare from experience, that He has granted them to feel the power of his blood. Besides those, thirty-thre& persons have been received into the class of capdidates for baptism. But the most pleasing sight to us, was nineteen communicants, fifteen of whom attained to this favour duiing the year, and in whose eyes it was legible, that they had tasted in the sanctuary to- day, how gracious the Lord is. "Each division of the congregation afterwards stood up, when their names were read, were briefly exhort- 1748.] A YOUNG WOMAN TAKEN BY FORCE. 105 ed to faithfulness, and blessed by the singing of a verse suited to their several circumstances. . <* At midnight we all fell prostrate at the feet of our Redeemer, and after thanking the Holy Trinity for the preservation, tuition, grace, and loving-kind- ness, which we had experienced during the past year, recommending ourselves and all our Brethren, parti- cularly those among the heathen, to our Lord's further supermtendence and gracious influence, about three o'clock in the morning, we retired cheerfully to rest." Among the baptized were seven children of believ- ing parents, and also a young woman, to whom a par- ticular incident happened shortly before her baptism. Having gone in company with another to Kangek, a savage took her away by force, intending to com- pel her to marry him, according to the custom of the Greenlanders. Her companion was unable to rescue her, there being many in the neighbourhood, who boast- ed that they were not afraid of any European. He was therefore obliged to leave her with them, audit was three days, before he could acquaint the missionarie» with the event. As soon as they heard of it, they hastened to her assistance, and arnved at the spot, the same evening. One of them ran into the house, in which she was confined, and said to her : ** How camest thou here ?" Ans. " That man keeps me by force." ** Art thou inclined to h^ve this man ?" " No, tut he dragged me hither by the hair of my head." " Then take your things and follow us, for we are come to fetch you." Just at this moment a person came into the house with a gun. The perplexed savages said to her: << Make haste and begone, lest we be all shot." They were assured, that no injury should be done them, but charged never to attempt to lay hands on our people, as we should certainly find them out, were they removed to ever so great a distance. All present were quiet, and only insisted on our speedy departure. Thus the person alluded to was brought away the same night, with- out having received any ill usage, except the custom- ary beating from the old women, to inforce her consent. T/'hli I > 1j 1, J '•Ml 106 ▲ RfiMARXABLS DRIAM. [17*8. We forgot to mention, that great doubts were enter- tained, whether it would be possible for a ship to ar* rive this year, as the shore had seldom been olocked up with such quantities of ice. However, ,in the be- ginning of June, it was so far broken up by, a strong north wind, that two ships found it practicable to run into the harbour. Christian David and a joiner returned in one of these ships to £urope, after having built the church, and in so far completed the rest of the dwellings, that the Brethren could move into them on the Und of April. 1749* — In the first half of the next year nothing particular occurred, and what is said of the pri- mitive believers. Acts ix. 91. might with justice be applied to the Greenland congregation : ** The church had rest and was edified, walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost." lliere was but little intercourse with the iieatheni as few natives of the south visited the islands. Some old acquaintances now and then came to the set- tlement ; but* most of them were as yet apirituallv dead, and generally replied to the exhortations of the mis- sionary : ** Our ears are not fitted for that matter, no- thing abides with us." Others, who had wrestled/or some t|me with the disquietude of their hearts, at last took refuge to the Cross. Of the latter class was the late Kajamak's brother-in-law, who came to us and said: ** Now I am quite weary of living among the savages ; I will devote myself to our Saviour, and dwell with the believers." This man had been awakened in the year 1799, by Samuel's testimony and example, heard the word of God gladly, loved and willingly served the be- lievers, but could never before resolve to forsake the customs of his forefathers. During a sharp fit of sick- ness last year, he had a remarkable dream. He fancied himself on the summit of a high and steep hiU, and that on one side of it there was a pleasant place, where the believers were happy; on the other, a frightful 17490 ORKCNLANOBIU PROTRACT THEIR STAY. 107 pit full of people, exceedingly tormented. There are many instances, (say the missionaries) of Greenlanders, who have lost their native insensibility, but yet cannnot resolve to give their whole hearts to God, being terri- fied by such dreams, and frightened into more mature reflection on their state. The Brethren were also rejoiced, to see several prejudiced persons give ear to the truth, at least for a time. A famous conjuror, who had formerly persecuted the believing Greenlanders, pitched his tent for some time near the missionrhouse, and heard the truth. He affirmed, that a terrible dream, frequently repeated, in which he thought that he saw a man spread before him all the wickednesses of his life, was the means of bringing him to serious medi- tation. Likewise the ringleader of those banditti, who, since the murder of Kajarnak's brother-in-law, had committed several others, and been severely reproved by the missionaries, came frequently hither tbia -year, and heard the word of God with a wonderfully devo- tional mien, fiut his conversion went no further. The Greenlanders protracted their stay in the set- tlement longer than usual this year, and did not set off for the islands till May. It was evidently painful to them, to separate and forsake their teachers, whom thej^ loved with a child-like affection. The churrh festivals and other important memorial-days, previous to their departure, were solemnized with approprate services j upon which an abundant blessing rested. In the Lent-season, and during the Passion-week, the read- ing and illustration of the sufferings and death of Christ deeply afiected the Greenland congregation. These might truly be called days, which the Lord had made. On Maundy-Thursday was the Holy Sacra- ment : on Good- Friday the account of our Saviour's death was read, accompanied with suitable meditations. It produced great emotion among the Greenlanders. On the following day our Lord's rest in the grave was made the subject of prayer and singing. The Green- landers were reminded, that by this rest, afler his meritorious conflict, the Son of God had sanctified the If I 108 FIRST CAPKLTNS APPBAR. [1749- grave, and rendered this mansion, otherwise so gloomy and Rightful, a blessed chamber of repose, for those, who die in the Lord. On Easter-Sunday morning, the congregation assembled in the chapel before sun^rise : they then proceeded to the burying-ffround, prayed a part of the Litany, and called to mind, with few words and many tears, all the mercies shown to the Green- land con^egation, and especially to those, who had departed m the last year. On May 19th, the missionary Beck set off on the herring fishery with most of the congregation, in twen- ty-two women's boats and a great number of kajaks. in about two hours it began to snow so thick, that they could not see twenty paces before them ; but the kind angels conducted them so, that no person sufiered harm, or was separated from the company. As all the tents could in general be pitched conveniently in the same place, the usual meetings were notintermitted, and the congregation had an opportunity of experiencingi that the presence and the blessing of the Lord is not confined to place, and that the only requisite for the ac- ceptance of devotion is, that it be performed in spirit and in truth. During the sermon on Whitsunday, writes the mis- sionary, a strong emotion was perceived. ** We had a numerous and very attentive auditory, though the snow fell in great quantities upon us ; for the church at Pissiksarbik has no roof but the firmament ; its walls are the snow-white mountains ; the pulpit is a large stone ; and a ledge of rocks the substitute for benches. Afler the discourse I gave the Greenlanders a dinner of rein-deers' flesh. Two of them, whd had been j^ilty of some indiscretion in my absence, appeared ashamed of their bad conduct. With one of them, who had grown shy towards me, and associated with bad com- pany, I had some conversation, in which I represented to nim what pain our Saviour felt for his obstinate estrangement. He burst into tears, and I wept with him. " On the 28th, the first capelins came near the shore. MATTHEW 8TACH RETURNS. 109 1749.;] We were diligent in catchinji^ them. In the evening discourse, I endeavoured to impress it on the minds of the Greenlanders, that the grace of our Saviour is not confined to particular solemnities, but often comes, when and where it is least expected ; that he seizes one at sea, another on the land, another while fishing, or hunting, and others on the ice-moubtains, or in the thickets : that whoever is only sensible of his need, and applies to Him for relief, will find arms open to receive him, and a heart ready to forgive all his transgressions. On the 8th of June, a great many heathen attended the sermon on John iii. I7 — ^21. ohortly after, some who had been to catch seals, brought us the melan- choly intelligence, that the youth Bartholomew was missmff. I commissioned several to search for him, who, after much trouble, found him sunk and suffocated in a bog, over which he wished to have carried his kajak. They laid him in a grave, and erected a monu- ment on a rock near the spot. He came to us last year ; and in a short time made such progress in spi- ritual knowledge and experience, that we judged him a fit subject for baptism, since which his conduct has been much to our satisfaction. On the ISth, we set out on our return with songs of praise, and had fine weather till we arrived at New Hermhut, where our people received us with joy, and thanked the Lord for all the grace impartedf to us in the desert. After this expedition, the Greenlanders staid mostly at home, till they went to the Sound, on the seal- fishery, in September. In the interval, Matthew Stach returned with some Greenlanders whom he had taken to £urope, on board the Irene, Captain Gerrisen, at a time, when all the bays were so beset with ice, that every one wondered, how such a light-built vessel had been able to make her way, in a thick fog and strong wind, without sustaining the smallest damage. The above-mentioned natives, having expressed a strong desire to visit Europe, had accompanied him two years ago, in the Dutch ship, which brought the materials ^:f/' L p>-\ ;,<■ : no ERECTIOir OF A STOR^-HOUIE. C*749. for building our chapel: their names were, Simon Arbalik and Sarah russimek, a married pair ; Judith Issek, a young woman ; Matthew Kaji^mak, and Argusmak, two youths. The journey had proved a great btessinff to them. One of the youths, who was unbaptized, had baptism administered to him in Hem' haag, and was called Johanan. About the same time, the other four were admitted to the enjoyment of the Holy Communion. As apprehensions were entertained, that the hot weather and long deprivation of Green* land diet, might prove detrimental to their health, it was thought proper, tnat they should return home before the commencement of summer. However, numerous obsta- cles arose, which prevented their removal till it was too late in the season to think of it. In May, the mission- ary travelled with them to HermhuU In the same month Sarah died happily, and about five weeks afler, her husband Simon followed her. They were bdith interred in the burying ground at HermhuU This dispensation was no small grief to the Brethren, who entertained strong hopes, that this couple, who had before been so useful, might now render them impor. tant service. Nor did they know how to get the other three, who enjoyed good health, back again to their country. Towards autumn, the missionary travelled with them back to Holland, in hopes of finding a vessel sailing from thence to Greenland. They completed this journey on foot, without any one suspecting them to be savages. Fortunately the Irene came thither from New York, and as the captain expressed his wil- lingness to tLke. them to Greenland, they sailed with him to London, in the beginning of the year. There they were presented to George II. and the rest of the royal family, at Leicester House. They then proceeded in the Irene to Pensylvania, visited the congregation at Bethlehem and Nazareth, and the converted Indians in America, who sent som6 letters by them to the Greenlanders. Christian David, who had seen the necessity of erecting a storehouse for the natives, in order to preserve their dried meat, fish, y t IfifcUfi. '-i- .--*& .^•** 17*90 RETURN OF THE FIRST MISSIONARY. Ill 5ec. from the depredations of the foxes, and from putre- fiction, accompanied Brother Beck, in order to render this additional service to the Greenland congregation. Hitherto infectious disorders had frequently been occa- sioned by their throwing their provisions under a stone, ana suffering tliem to rot. The congregation in America was so kind as to present him with a quantity of wood and shingles, sufficient to build, not only the great store-house for the Greenlanders, but also another smaller one for the European brethren. Both were completed expeditiously in the course of a fortnight, as he wished to return to Europe by the same ship. The Greenland congregation were much rejoiced at the return of their first missionaries, and also of their three companions, afler an absence of nearly two years. Whoever has sufficient acquaintance with the simplicity of the heathen, and the depraved state of Christendom in general, must look upon it as a peculiar providence, that the latter were uncorrupted by their journey, and the multifarious objects it anavoidably presented. For even the few unprofitable ideas that had been insensibly impressed on their minds, were so speedily erased, that they almost immediately fell into their former course of life. Moreover, they reaped this advantage from their visit, that to the end of their lives they were employed as labourers among their nation, and approved themselves worthy of their trust. The Geenlanders enquired frequently, what they had heard, seen and experienced in Europe. Judith in particular had made good use of her stay in Germany, and having lived chiefly in the single sister's house, had imbibed a strong relish for that external decorum, so highly conducive to growth in grace. She therefore proposed to the heads of families, to permit their up- grown daughters, and also those, who served in the capacity of maids, to live with her during that winter in a separate house, and sleep together, after having finished their work in their respective families, that they might not, as hitherto, have things obtruded on their notice, calculated to awaken hurtful reflections. \\1 ! i ■ I K 112 DEATH OF NATHAl^* [1749. Her proposal was agreed to, and she, assisted by the other single women, built this autumn the first single sisters' house in Greenland. The manner, in which affairs are conducted during the winter, has been explained in former years. We shall therefore only observe that John Soerensen, who came to Greenland in the year 17^6, and who besides his labour in ministeriug the Gospel, devoted himself particularly to the management of the external eco- nomy, and the maintenance of order in the congrega- tion, was married, on the Qd of August, to the single sister Catherine Paulsin. As Michael Ballenhorst, who came two years ago, had acquired a sufficiency of the Greenland language, he was appointed caiechist. The same Brother took upon himself the care of the boys' school, and of the single men among the Greenlanders. Among the latter were some young men of good capa- cities, who besides their own occupations, which require long practice, had learned to read well, write a good German h|ind, sing, and play on some musical instru- ments. And the state of their minds afforded hopes, that they might one day be employed as assistants in preaching the Gospel. Among those, who died this year, was Nathan, a cheerful youth. It was thought by most, that he had perished at sea, as his kajak was found, but not his body. But some years afterwards it was discovered, that one of the natives had murdered him, because another baptized Greenlander had restored a seal to its rightful owner, which this savage had forcibly seized. The cruel wretch maliciously cut the innocent youth to pieces, as an inhabitant of the same place with his enemy, not being able to find the proper object of his revenge. Since this horrible event, more in- stances have occurred, in which our Brethren have gone out to sea and never returned. In such cases it is always doubtful, whether they be drowned, or slain by the heathen. Among those of the unbaptized, who died this year, was a woman, who left an orphan child, and committed ^ 1750.] A GENERAL FABIINE. lis it to the care of the head of the family, in which she lived at the time of her death. A savage at Kangek claimed a right to the child, having maintained the mother during her pregnancy. But as the last foster- father, a baptized man, had provided both for the mother and her offspring, the savage was obliged to be satisfied. 1750. — The weather this winter was unusually incle^ ment, tempestuous and snowy; and towards Easter, such a keen frost set in, as the oldest inhabitants had never ex- perienced, whereby the harbour, which is six miles broad m the narrowest place, was so firmly frozen, that no water was to be seen till April, notwithstanding the high tides and strong current. The Greenlanders, therefore, were exposed to great perils, when they went out to seek for provisions; yet fortunately, none were lost. About Easter there was a general famine. The believers suf- fered least, as they had not only learned to pray, but to work and to be good economists, so that they could always reserve something for the needy, of whom many took refuge in the settlement. Those from Kangek were called to account for having buried an old man alive. They pleaded in excuse, that they had done so at the request of his daughter, because he had a putrid hand, and could provide nothing. The Gospel was declared to these as well as to the other heathen, who came for food ; but alas ! by such opportunities seldom any good was effected. They indeed admired the order among their countrymen, but upon being asked, whether they would also surrender themselves to our Saviour, and follow the example of the believers, who, according to their own confessions, led a happy life, and felt the pressure of the times less than the other Greenlanders ; they had recourse to their usual excuse: Sanieissegalloar pogut kissien qjornakau, "We should have no objection to conversion, were it not so difficult." It was evident on various occasions, that though their understandings were convinced of the truth, their hearts would not embrace it. Many of them ran off as soon as Christ was spoken of, and VOL. 11. «' k <'->.. t > ■^ '^1 lU STORES PVT UF VOR WINTER. imo. \s guarded as carefullV agaiklst uneasiness of mind, as a timordbs man guards against an infectious disease^ ot the spells of a sorceren . ; > ^ : DuHng the summer theBrethren had almost daily visits, though ^w came from a desire to hbar any thing) but merely to boast of their success in huntibg^ Among other visitors was Kainaek, who spread a report, that he would s6t fire to the Brethren's buildings, because they had taken a woman under their protection, whom he wished to compel to bfe his wifea When charged with Such a design, he denied it) yet lay continually in wait, till he had an opportunity to kidnap the woman alluded to. As she was not received among the catechumens, it was difficult for the Brethren to meddle in the affair. They, however, sent a messenger after him, to desire him not to treat the woman ill, as he had threatened. As it was afterwards reported^ that both sides were satisfied, no farther interference was thought necessary. The Greenlanders remained together till after Easter, and celebrated the usual festivals with mutual edificatioil. Afterwards, most of them repaired to the Sound, where they were visited diligently; and twenty-four boats went to the herring, fishery, accom* panied by Matthew Stacli* Owing to the arrival of the ship, this Brother was obliged to leave his charge for some time under the inspection of the national assistants. In this year, the Greenland trade was made over to the Koyal Incorporated Company of Merchants; and orders were at the same time received from go* vernment, that the Brethren, instead of having their provisions, &c* conveyed free of expense, should hence* forward pay a reasonable freight. By this means they were at once relieved from the necessity of being troublesome to those in office, exempted from numerous delays, and enabled to pursue their own plan to general satisfaction* During the remainder of the summer, the Green- landers were employed in putting up the necessary stores for winter. The following account of a visit is given by a missionary : -9,%-i- •.^t-^' 17^0 GREENLANDEBS' MEETINGS ABOULATED. 115 « Not. 2d. Three of us, together with severid Greeti^ landera^ sailed up the i»let to a Greenland housew The inhabitants received us in love. Upon being told by our people that one of their relations bad died at Kangeky they set up a dreadful howly which, however, did not last long. This furnished us with an .c^[)por- tunity, to tell them, how those who love Jesus, are affected by the prospect of death. We related with what joy two of our Greenland sisters had departed last summer, assuring them, that this blessing was pro^ cured by the blood of Jesus, which cleanseth the sotil, and imparts to it a desire to depart to its Creator, stronger than that of a child to visit its absent parents. They were astonished to hear this. One of them said, that he should be glad to become a believer, but could not live with us, on account of the great waves on our coast. At another place we met with nine families. They requested some medicine for an old sick manj and having nothing of the kind with us but brandy, we gave him a small quantity, which seemed to alleviate his pain. In return they ofiered us a reindeer-skin, but our refusing it, heightened their gratitude." Shortly after this visit, a strange family came frdm the south, who had a kinswoman in the Greenland con. gregation. Also a family belonging to the mission at Godhaahy obtained leave to live at New Hermfmt, in consequence of their repeated request, and the rea- commendation of Mr. Drachart. Towai'ds the end of the year that gentleman was himself likewise obliged to remove to our settlement, on account of his family cir- cumstances, and from thence to discharge iiis duties at the colony, as well as possible. The meetings of the Greenlanders were about this time regulated anew, according to their sex, age and spiritual improvement. Previous to the adoption of any plan relative to the assemblies for edifying conver- sation, theGreenlanders were informed, that if there were any individuals, who had no pleasure in them, they should rather acquaint the missionaries with their dislikci I 2 3f ,q /^ "i- 'A \^ ■ i ' ' ! f - ^ I i ' :s ■J J' r i:: i I * r * * h 110 SEVERAL MARRIAGES* [WO. than make any hypocritical professions. AU, however, expressed a desire to be admitted to these meetings. Besides, such measures were taken as might tend to preserve among the Greenlanders an orderly and be- coming deportment, suitable to their profession. A number of regulations to this effect were compiled, with the assistance of the most reputable heads of fami- lies, which should always be recommended to the attention of the Greenlanders, and particularly of new inhabitants, when moving into their winter houses. Whoever acted contrary to them, received a reprimand suited to the nature of his offence, and they easily comprehended, that these rules were not enforced from caprice, but tended to the maintenance of general order, and to remove opportunities for sin. Once a party of young Greenlanders began to box, ac- cording to their national method of striking each other on the shoulders, till one of the parties submit. It w^s represented to them, that this diversion, though per- haps not exactly wicked, occasioned much levity, and was improper in Christians. They understood the admonition, and promised to do so no more. Thirty'Six Greenlanders attained this year to the enjoy- ment of the Holy Communion, and two couples were mar- ried. The baptism of several boys and girls, who had not arrived at years of discretion, at the same time with their parents, was reprobated by the synod of the Bre- thren, as it appeared improper to confer this grace upon those, who had not been baptized shortly after their birth, and yet did not fully know on whom they be- lieved, what baptism is, what benefits accrue from it, and what obligations it imposes. The practice was of course discontinued. Besides the two marriages above-mentioned, four couples, who had married among the savages, but had since become members of Christ's body, and partakers of the Holy Communion, received the solemn benedic- tion of the church, with a view to their living for the future in Christian wedlock, in a manner well-pleasing to God. 1750.] AN UMBAFTIZED MAN DIES. 117 Avery remarkable occurrence happened to the wife of a Brother married this year. Shortly after her bap- tism, her brothers made an attempt to carry her off; but were prevented by a missionary, who took her under his protection. The Greenlanders immediately seized him with an intention to take away his life. To prevent his murder, the woman leaped into the boat, and called out to the savage^^ to sail away with her. They did so, and the missionary instantly dispatched a letter after them to his 4tep-brother, raul Molzau, factor at Godhaab, to have them arrested, and the young woman released. This factor waited for them at Kangek,yfh.ich they passed on their way to the south, but could not find the woman, as she was concealed under some skins in their boat, and ordered under pain of death, not to discover, by the least motion, the place of her confinement. However, when they had sailed about fourteen leagues farther, she prevailed upon her brothers to land, and permit her to gather bilberries. Having got ashore, she stole away, and hid herself among the rocks. The savages sought for her two days without success, sometimes leaping over the very cleft, in which she lay concealed ; but at last finding all their attempts fruitless, sailed away. It was not till after a solitary and perilous journey of many leagues, over mountains and valleys, that she met with one of the believing Green - landers, who conducted her to the colony in safety. Her behaviour as a housewife was exemplary, and she was an useful assistant among her countrywomen. Towards the close of the year, an unbaptized man de- parted this life, who had joined the Brethren last winter. A fright was the cause of his coming. Last year,, as he was carrying off a boy, whom he had adopted, from the settlement, against his will, the boy was drowned not far from the coast. This dispensation brought him to a sense of his error. He therefore resolved to change his life, came, in the sequel, to New Herrnhut with his whole family, and died in firm reliance on the atonement of his Redeemer, I 3 UmA ■H 'v' :.: I >v:0; :, 4 :\'V''<-^'ii'< '%, 1X8 witLoeis. C1T«1. 1*751. -— Meai•. F,. 'V, ,:*• '4 ' 1 ^ 4 jiff Pi m DSATH or MHi. DlUCHART. C17«. ness is it to have a happy heart ! Now I shall be soon with my Saviour !** Mrs. Drachart, the wife of the Danish missionary, died on New Year's Day. Towards the end of last year, tfhortly afler she had come to the settlement, she was seized with a violent fever. On the first day of this year, she became delirious, but towards evening she grew quite composed, and fell gently asleep in the thirty-sixth year of tier age. Her corpse was deposited in a tomb at New Hermhut, This unexpected incident, together with a precarious state of health, induced her husband to take his leave of the colony and mission. Besides he had two children, whom, according to the request of their mother, he wished to be educated in one of the Brethren's schools; and as the oldest missionary, Matthew Stach, was called, v;ith his family from Greenland to Labrador, the Danish missionary em- braced the opportunity of travelling with his old ac- quaintance to Hermhut. He there committed his children to the charge of the Brethren, being un- determined, whether to return to Greenland, or ac- cept of a situation in his naj/e country. But he was so delighted with Hermhut, that he could not resolve to shift his residence from thence, and upon his most earnest request obtained leave to stay there, after hav- ing previously procured his dismission from the Honour- able* College of Missions. He is still remembered with gratitude in Greenland, both by natives and Europeans. His lively discourses had such an effect upon the servants of the Company, and the sailors, many of whom, when they came to Greenland, little exceeaed the natives in spiritual knowledge, that he had always among them a company of such as thirsted after salvation, and whose depoitment tended to facilitate the execution of his of- fice among the heathen. He had also the pleasure to see the fruit of his endeavours among the Green land- ers, having arranged matters at first, so as to have them all collected in one place, and accustomed him* self to care both for their bodily sustenance and spirit- ual advancement. From many instances of the last- 1751.] DIARIES Of niE MISSION* IM ing impression made by his instructions on the natives, and evinced at their departure, we shall mention only the following. A long time after he left the colony, a man baptized by him was taken ill, and one of our Brethren was requested to bleed him. The present Danish missonary, who was not yet master of the lan- guage, desired that the man might be comforted oiit of the word of God ; and accordingly the Brother asked the patient how he felt his heart disposed ? He answered with openness : " I meditate on our Saviour, who died for me. I call frequently to mind, what I can never forget, the words of Pelissingoak ♦, who bap- tized me.** Upon being asked farther, whether he could depart out of this life in firm reliance on our Saviour ? He replied : ** O yes, for he hath purchased me with his precious blood." The diaries of the missions for the last twelve years have shown, to the joy of all interested in the cause of the heathen, that missionaries of two different religious constitutions, having the same fundamental faith, need not suffer a passionate zeal for private opinion to keep them asunder, but that if both sides take wisdom for their guide, they may conduct their opera* tions in harmony, and unite their eflfbrts to gather in the haiTest of their common Master. Both parties held the Augustan confession ; they had one Lord, one baptism. Both inculcated the doctrine of justification before God by free grace, through the merits of his Son. They honoured each other as fathers, loved each other as Brethren, assisted each other with counsel and action, particularly in leading awakened souls to Jesus, and no disparity of opinion on less important points, was ever suffered to clog their joint eftbrts to establish the kingdom of Christ and his Cross. * The little minister. The Greenlanders gave Mr. Drachart thig appellation, to distinguish him from another missionary, who was taller. IS ,* ■• ' ' - !•> ,?■ -<':M 138 PARTICULARS OF HTS VISIT. [17^. returned with their hands and faces frozen. A vio- lent hurricane, accompanied with lightning, neilrly oveithrew the Brethren's house and chapel ; the build- ing rocked and cracked like a ship in ai tempest. About the same time, their new and largest boat, which was drawn on shore and tied to a post, was shattered almost to pieces by the waves, in a storm of unparalleled fuiy. They and the Greenlanders ven- tured in to save it, till the waves rose above their heads. Many savages in other places perished by cold and hunger, and our Greenlanders were in danger of a similar fate. The Brethren admitted one company after another into their rooms to warm them- selves thoroughly, and distributed dried fish and peas among the poorer families. At the instance of the missionaries the more wealthy Greenlanders assisted in relieving their distressed brethren ; and this, added to what little their own exertions could procur^, kept them from starving, until the disruption of the ice in March, left the sea open to their necessary pursuits. Bishop Johannes was agreeably surprised by the flourishing appearance of New Hermhut, rising like a garden of the Lord in a frightful wilderness. The country consisted entirely of bald rocks, thinly inter- spersed with spots and veins of earth, or rather sand ; but the land adjacent to the neat and regular tenement of the missionaries, where, formerly, there grew not a blade of grass, was clad in the most beautiful verdure. While he was surveying the prospect, the Brethren, Boehnisch, Soerensen, and Ballenhorst, came sailing home from the Kookoernen. All the missionaries being now assembled, the bishop, who had previously read their diaries, held frequent conferences with them on the affairs of the congregation. He also edified the Greenlanders, both by his discourses, which one of the Brethren translated after him by sentences, into the native tongue ; and by the conversations, which he had in private with every individual. It was a heart-felt delight to him, to assist at the baptism of three adults, 1752.] PA "tLTICULAns OF HIS VISIT. 1^29 soon after his arrival. He took a lively interest in all the avocations of his brethren ; joining in their visits to their dispersed flock, or to the neighbouring savages ; attending them occasionally on their expeditions to cut turf, -and collect fire- wood and birds* eggs, which formed a principal part of their sustenance during the season, and making frequent excursions in the vicinity of the settlement, to gain a knowledge of the country. One of these excursions was to KanneisuU about ten miles distant, on the other side ofBaaFs River. " It is," he writes, " a tract of firm land,rismg into rocky hills ralher than mountains, with large plains, rivers, pools, smA fine grass-plots between. About this time it is infested with a vast swarm of mosquitos, though they sre by no means as troublesome as in St. Thomas, or on the banks of the Delaware. Our Brethren had for- merly their best rein-deer hunt in this district ; but since the Greenlanders have procured so many guns, a rein-deer is now a rarity. There is a good salmon- fishery here, and the Brethren have sometimes taken from four tb six hundred salmon-trout in their net, at one draught." On another occasion, after visiting Kangek, «* he returned through Nepiset Sound, a nar- row channel, between the main land and the islands, into which the tide enters on both sides^ and carries in many seals with its rapid current. The water is so shallow, that the bottom is almost every where visible, which renders it an excellent place for fishing. On this account, a great number of Greenlanders reside here in summer and autumn ; and it has been observed, that since so many new people have settled in the neighbourhood, the seal-catching has become much more productive and commodious." By the advice of the bishop, the services of those Greenlanders, who on account of their exemplary con- duct, had been selected as assistants, were put into more frequent requisition. They were entrusted with the oversight of the congregation, when abroad in sum- mer, and were desired to keep a meeting every evening VOL. II. K '?!■ •> \: 'y>\\ ,1 i X it I i, • ..Li." 130 CONTAGIOUS DISORDER. [175^. in their tent, both for our own people, and for such hea- then as wished to attend ; a charge which they accepted with willingness and humility. In a farewell love-feast with the missionaries, the conversation turned upon the expediency of planting a new settlement, further to the south. Almost all their Greenlanders had come from that quarter. The hap- pily departed Kajarnak,, by the visit, which he made there auer his baptism, drew after him a train of three dr four hundred people, who all forsook their native country to live in New Hermhut. Yet, as the native helpers declared, they felt, and frequently expressed an ardent desire, that the Brethren would carry the Gospel into their own country, which was the most populous part of all Greenland. But these were pious wishes, which at that time they saw no possibility of accomplishing. After a stay of two months, equally agreeable to hiai' self and to the objects of his visit. Brother de Wdtteville prepared for his return; but while the vessel was Retained by contrary winds, he had the pleasure to ^mplete a revision of the Greenland hymn-book, begun by his recommendation : it contained the litanies atid liturgies of the church, and upwards of a hundred hymns. Immediately after the departure of the ship, August t^th, a sickness broke out among the natives, attended with violent head-ache, and pains in the breast, or pleu- ritic stitches. By this disorder, many awakened hea- then in the neighbouring islands, and thirty of the baptized, among whom were some of the most useful assistants, were transplanted into eternity. The sava- ges made their own reflections on the occasion, and could not conceive why the mortality was the greatest among the Nookieets.* At last they satisfied them- selves with the remark, that it was probably, because they believed, and thought too much of the Saviour. * Noolc, signifies in Greenlandic, a point or earner of land, such as that on which New Hermhut is situated. "175^. !h hea- cepted e to him- ITattevUle Bssel was leasure to pk, b^g«n iniQs and hundred 175«.] OBITUARY. ISI We should be far too prolix, were we to notice all who fell asleep in peaceful reliance on the merits of a cru- cified Redeemer. Let the following sketch suffice as a specimen of the rest. Matthew Kajarnak was one of the four first baptized by the Brethren. In 1747 he made a visit to Europe, and was afterwards employed with blessing as an assist- ant. In a letter, which he wrote to Germany this year, he says : ** We have been gratified beyond measure by Johannes Assersok's * visit. When he spoke the first time in our meeting-hall, n^y eyes were bathed in tears. I can say with truth, that I am very happy, even much more so, than when I was with you. Since that time our Saviour has done much ip my heart. Worthless as I am^ I can only thank h^m for his gr^ce. He is exceedingly lovely, and my comfort in him will never have an end. I often think on you ; but now I never expect to see you more, till we go to our Saviour. His pierced stde is the sai^ctuary, where we shall meet again." He had a clear, penetrating judgment, a lively active temper, and a tender heart, and was a wonder to us all. His last hours were edifying. The Lamb and his suflferings were the only theme of jiis ^discourse, the only things which gave him joy. Once when some one asked him, whether he felt much pain, he pointed with his finger towards his hand, to intimate, that he was meditating on the wounds of Jesus. Soon afler he recovered his voice and began to speak in German : •* I love our Saviour exceedingly. I am very glad that I shall soon go to him ; — will not ypu come too?" He then desired the bv-standers to sing German and Greenlandic verses. At last he kisse^l the missionary's hand, and s^id, " I love you much.** Directly after liis breath seemed to fail him, yet he opened his eyes once more, looked round, and began to sing, but his tongue refused to proceed. We "* Johannes, the lovingt by which epithet, the Greenlandera were wont to diatinguiih him from others of the same name. K 2 ;«t; ni ■V '■ L,» f I,':'' f ''! m m vi ¥ «,','■■■■". 11/ 1 ■4 n ' M O'Ki! '.•-, [■''ii-'.'i ^•K m 132 VISITS IN KANGEK. [1753, 17M. #« Sling the verse to the end, and then, during the words : ** The soul of Christ thee sanctify," he slept so softly away, that it was scarcely to be perceived, that the spirit had quitted its fleshly tabernacle. His name will never be mentioned among us without awakening our most tender affections, while it will always revive the powerful recollection of our loss. But we con- gratulate him on his rest with all our hearts. f^ Hush! — stir not up ,the frf«n(l of Christ, Wake not the |ouI his bride ; Some vision causeth her to smile, She views his open side. * 1753, 17^^.' — During the two following years con- siderable accessions were made to the number of the baptized. The former of these years was .Remark- able for the addition of sixty-seven ne^ jieople to the congregation, and in the latter year, nearly sixty of the baptized alone, out of^ a nuniber of be- tween three and four hundred persons, were called into eternity. The other sheep, not yet in the fold, were not forgotten by the Brethren. In Kangek they generally found some of the savages, who heard the word with attention, and gave their assent to it, though but few had such hearts and ears, as the Lord requires for the reception of his doctrine. The Brethren remarking that when they usied this expression : «* He hath re- deemed usy" it was mostly understood by the heathens, as if Christ had died for the Europeans only, they were obliged io substitute : for you ; but, as the Lutheran catechism observes, this also requires be- lieving hearts. An old grey-headed man lamented, that he was past learning these things; but, he was told, that he needed no systematic knowledge; to go to the Saviour as a lost creature, just as he ^ felt him- 6dt» and to ask him for absolution from sin, and fulness of grace, did not require a retentive memory, or that 4 1753-1754..] HISTORY OF KAINAEK. isd he should torture his brains mth intense reflection ; nothing Avas necessary but the. cry of unaffected dis- tress, and the upright desire for deliverance. On another visit to Kangeh the Brethren lodged with their old acquaintance Kainaek. One of them, at the close of a serious discourse, into which they had entered with their host and his wife, thus address- ed them : " Ailer all I am persuaded, that you belong to our Saviour, and that he will certainly take posses- sion of you and yours, and baptize you with his* blood." On this the woman said : <*'Hannese, do you believe this of us in good earnest ?" " Yes," replied the missionary, " and till this is the case, you will find no relief from your inward disqifietude." They both began to weep. About a month after this incident, the Brethren Soerensen and Ballenhorst returned one dreadful day from Kangekt bringing with them Kainaek and his whole family. The aspect of the travellers was frig|itful, for they were mailed in the ice» which had gathered on theib from . the frost-smokeii The strand soon swarmed with people rejoicing in the arrival of new candidates for the' kingdom of God. Kainaek was one of the first Southlanders, who be- came acquainted with the Brethren. As he was of a good family, his three immediate ancestors having all been renowned seal-catchers, it was long before he could resolve to relinquish his fancied dignity, and submit to the ignominy of the cross. He was con- tinually roving from the north to the south, and from the south to the north ; but he could never fly from a restless heart, fly where he would. It was this person, whq has been already mentioned as having chastised young Kuanak so cruelly. He also lay in wait for the lives of several of the baptized, and threatened to set the Brethren's house on fire, because they protected a woman, who fled to them to avoid marrying him by compulsion. Afterwards, however, he accomplished his design of carrying away this person, and she happily K 3 '■■iA. : m m V '!>* ,l'i ^l;;.Mi ■mm : I. " '.; •■," I 'IF i. ! ■ :■/• ■M ■r- 1 •■ i- ,.. i -.1... ■•/' j_ idi JOURNEY TO THE NORTH. J^IJSS, l'75i». i proved the means of his hearing the Gospel several times with benefit. Afler many internal struggles, he begged repeatedly to be baptized, and though circum- stanced prevented him from changing his abode for the present, he and his wife were at length made par- takers of this favour. As soon as they could leave their winter houses, he hioved to his teachers with most of his domestics, who were upwards of twenty in number. He was as remarkable after his baptism for hi$ quiet manners, as he had before been for his un- governable wildness, and became a sincere disciple of Jesus. The conversion of thik man made much noise among the lavages, and the Brethren had a large number of eager hearers, who prepared to follow nim. Not a week in winter, and scarcely a day passed in summer, without the visits of strangers from the neighbourhood, or frequently also from maces more remote. One'of the native assistants, Daniel, was stimuli^ed by a Strong desire, id invite his brothers and acquaintance in the north to the enjoyment of salvation. The Brethren feared the dangers, to which he would be exposed in such a journey, but they yielded to his earnest solic itatibris, and dismissed him with the blessing of the congregation, in company of Jonas another assistant. They travelled dO^ miles to the north, and declared with boldness the message of atone- ment to all they met, and particularly to their relations. In some places they found hearts prepared for the reception of the Gospel, but they had likewise to sufier the reproach of the cross, and experienced what it was to be separated, by a long absence, from their Brethren, in the midst of unbelievers. " We were," said they, " like ignorant children amongst them, and were estranged to their ways and customs." They brought back with them several of their relatives. The brother of one of them was on his way to the settlement with his whole family, when he fell into the hands of a, pirate, probably an American, who 1753, 1754.] SINGULAR ADVENTURE* Ids robbed him of his goods and his kaiak. Intimidated > by this misfortune) he laid aside the thoughts of a voyage for the present, but he was again prevailed upon to follow b*. brother, and in the ensuing year many of his countrymen also came to the Brethren. When the Greenlanders repaired to their winter dwellings, it was discovered, that a man of the. name of Jacob was missing, who had been persuaded by his believing fHends to take up his abode in the settle- ment. During the summer he had been cajoled on board a Dutch ship, and sailed away to Europe, afler sending a message to the Brethren, recommending his wife and children to their care. The man was exhibited in public for money, on his arrival in Hol- land. Some friends of the Brethren were induced by his manners, to suspect that he had been baptized) by the Brethren, and eitlier enticed or forced away.: They repeated the names of the missionaries to him» but as they are only known to the G.re«nlandera by their Christian names, he did not understand them. Then they sung a common bymn tune, on which the Greenlander instantly fell in .with them, and went on with several verses in that tune* In order now tq determine, whether he belonged to the German or the Danish mission, they chose a tune which did not oc-^ cur in the common hymn-^books, with which also he showed himself to. be acquainted. While this iaves- tigation was going on, a crowd of spectators were attracted to the spot, to whom the Greenlander be- gan to keep a discourse : they could only understand the words Jesus Christ s but from his gestures, from his pointing with a contemptuous mien to the oma« mental furniture of the apartment, from his striking his breast and falling »upon his knees, they could con^ jecture, that he was recommending to them a con- tempt for the world, .and extolling the love of Jesus, under the supposition that he had a collection of heathens before him. Every one was amazed at this liovel spectacle j but as it made no small noise in the K 4 •,<«•-.* •'«'. PI ' \r ':■■''■ 'il P' ■>-• m ■| :.t.''*.r ■■:,-;■■'■'■"■"' 4 136 A V£RY SEVERE WINTER. [1754. city, the sailors, fearing that thej would be called to account for what they had done, conveyed him back to the ship. In the mean time Matthew Stach, who was then in Germany, being apprised of the circum- stance, hastened to Amsterdam, to deliver him from a situation so degrading and irksome to a human being ; but he came too late ; the object of his visit was dead, and had been buried in the churchyard of Nieuendam. There was however reason to conclude, that the poor man had left his country voluntarily, and that this voyage among strangers, to a strange land, had proved a blessing to his soul ; for before this adventure, he had intended to return to the savages. The family he left behind, went to their relatives, and wandered with them to the north. 1754. — The winter was distinguished by the excessive cold, which lasted from February to April, and rose iq such a pitch, that it burst the windows and stones. Ther^ were at the same time immense floats of ice, which rendered it next to impossible for any one to put out to sea; and when the increasing famine drove the Grecnlanders to make the attempt, the slightest vari- ation of the wind involved them in imminent danger. Lot, a believing native, who had retreated to an island, to escape the ice, was crushed between two large packs, when attempting to return home the next day, and lost his lifer Tiie inlet was at length completely covered with ice, and a person mi^ht walk on foot from the islands twelve miles off, to the colony. Six Dutch whalers, belonging to a fleet of fourteen, had run into BaaVs River to avoid the ice-fields, and lay at anchor for a fortnight a few miles from the set- tlement. The other vessels were surrounded and beset by the ice. This occurrence was not of the most pro- fitable nature for the Greenlanders, who are easily daz- zled and led astray by novelties. Thus one of the recently baptized, having been censured for some in- stance of misconduct, suffered the sailors to take ad- vantage of his resentment, so far as to persuade him to go with them to Europe \ and it was with much difficulty, 1754.] DISORDER AT NEW HERRNHUT. 137 that the sailors and he were diverted from their in- tention. In other respects, both the crew and the masters be- haved in a very friendly manner, attended the preach- ing, and were much pleased and affected with what they saw and heard. They also brought a corpse ashore, requesting the Brethren to give it Christian burial. On this occasion they discovered, unfortunately too late, that a contagious distemper prevailed in one of the ves- sels. Multitudes of Greenlanders, both Christians and heathen, had roamed about in every corner of every ship, and had received foreign provisions, especiallv peas, which they eat with the greater excess, as theu* sustenance had for several months been extremely scanty. The disorder first appeared among the sa- vages, but it was not long, before a raging sickness broke out amongst our people, bringing in its train, coughs, ear-achs, and pleuritic stitches. Scarcely a day passed, in which it did not carry off some victim. It was singular, that the mortal ?cythe made its great- est havock among the baptized, and cut off the most valuable assistants. What made the calamity more heavy was, that several of the most active heads of fa- milies were swept away, by which the number already large, of widows and orphans, was greatly augmented. The care of providing for these destitute people, and properly disposing of the sucking infants*, added considerably to the embarrassments of the mission- aries, and heavily tasked the activity of the few remain- ing Greenlanders, who were capable of bearing their part of the public burden. Scarcely any of the Europeans either at New Herrn- hut, or the colony, escaped this year, without some * There is nothing, to which Greenland mothers are more averse, than to suckle the child of a stranger, lest their own offspring should have a rival in their affections. In such cases there is no thought of compassion from a Greenland woman ; and the unfortunate father, who cannot bear to see the lingering death of his little infant, has no resource but to bury it alive immediately. It is therefore no small proof of the power of divine Grace, that it overcomes even this bar- barous prejudice. !i - im i» 'A I ]'■ ' ■•» U '"'.ii i I ... I, I ll "' - • • I ! 1 1S8 DEATH OF BARZILLAI. C175^. dtsorder. Among the rest Mr. Molzau, the factor, struggled with a severe sickness, from which, however, he recovered. Soon afler, he left the country with his family, and returned to Copenhagen, where he was again attacked by an illness, which proved fatal to him. He had resided thirteen years at Godhaab ; he was a sin- cere Christian, and a firm friend of the Brethren. Mr. Lars Dalager, then factor at Frederics- haab, came to supply his place. There were also several, who departed this life, pre- vious to the attack of the contagion. Of these a youth called Christian, was particularly lamented : he was possessed of talents o'' a superior order, soon learned to read and write both his native language and the German, and was of great service in copying and translating. To these acquisitions, he added some knowledge of music. But whilst his teachers were indulging the hope of his future more extensive use- fulness, he was removed from them into the con- gregation above, by means of -a lingering con- sumption. His death was followed by that of Barzillai, a widower, the oldest man in the settlement. He was an intel- ligent person, much respected by his countrymen, and the head of a numerous family. While he was still living among the heathen, he once asked one of the missionaries: *< Hast thou seen the God of whom thou speakest ?*' The missionary replied : " 1 have not seen him yet, but I love him with my whole heart ; and I, and all true believers shall once see him with .our bodily eyes." This confident avowal must have left a deep impression on his mind, and occasioned him much and anxious reflection ; for after his baptism in 1747* he still very frequently alluded to it. The tranquil and happy course of this old man, gave the Brethren the liveliest pleasure ; but it was not till his last sickness, that they discovered what lay hid in the recesses of his heart. For while he suffered under the racking pangs of the colic, he was uncommonly cheerful, and on any transient remission of pain, he nH.'] CELEBRATION OF EASTER. 139 sung the sweetest verses expressive of love and joy in the Redeemer. He completed the number of a hundred, who had gone home io their Saviour, in New Hermkut ; which was exactly a fourth of all the Greenlanders baptized there since 1739. The solemn season of the Passion week was blessedly celebrated with the usual solemnities. On Easter morning early, the congregation went to the ^urying- ground, where they called to mind by name, the eighteen brethren and sisters, who had departed since the preceding Easter ; and tilled and elevated by the hope of a joyful resurrection, they prayed for everlast* ing fellowship with them and the church made perfect* around the throne of the Lamb. The new-year*8 vigil was begun by a discourse on the text : Tiic Heavens declare the glory of God, &c. and the works of God in this place were brought into remembrance to his hpnour. Fort;y-eight souls h^d, in the course of thO year, been incorporated with the congregation by holy baptism. Thirty-'cight new people had obtained leave to live in the settlement, and four of the baptized had been admitted to the holy Com- munion. On the threshold of a new year, the united flock of believers offered up especial thanks for all the mercies experienced in the old j for the recovery of so many sick, when almost none escaped infection ; for the faitiiful care of their Heavenly Father in their outward need ; for the blessed progress of the Gospel, and the powerful proofs of the Holy Spirit's influence on their souls, both in their public meetings and in private life ; for external tranquillity ; for the preserva- tion of the missionaries and native assistants in their frequent visits to the heathen ; and for all that had escaped their memory, notwithstanding the fullness of the heart. For all these blessings they raised their fervent aspirations of praise and thankfulness to the Holy Trinity, imploring an increase of grace, and the constant nearness of their Head and Lord ; concluding with calling to mind the first daily word for the year : • : t f. J • tm r. m '^■^ '1 ■ *'% 140 FAMINE AMONG THE OREENLANDERS. [1755-1757. 175 B^ I ) II m O my people, remember now, that ye may know the righteousness qf the Lord, ?r 1755, 66, 57.-^ As tbs first of these year^, though rich in blessing to the congregation, was unmarked by any occurrences, which can ]ay claim to the pen of the annalist, we pass it over in silence. I will give peace to this place, saith the Lord qf Hosts, Hag. li. V.» was the promise, which the Brethren re- ceived in the beginning of 1756, a period signalized by so mao^ commotions in different parts of the globe. And it was not without its accomplishment, either in a secular or spiritual sense; for God who, for twenty- three years had guided and protected his lowly flock, and built them up into a living temple, to his honour, even amidst the frozen rocks of Greenland, was still present to comfort and bless them more abundantly. In spring, a great famine caused severe distress^ among the savages. Mr. Dalager, having been to KeU lins^t, a place generally abounding \^ith seals, lying fifty miles to the south, to trade for blul^ber, returned with a lamentable account of people perishing with hunger. He brought back with him a little girl, a poor outcast, whom the savages, unable to give her any food, had twice laid in a distant cave by the sea shore, that they might not see her die of hunger ; but finding her still alive, when they went to the place two days after, they threw her naked into the sea. And as even the sea would not be her grave, a Greenlander touched with compassion, laid her iii an empty storehouse. Presently after the merchant arrived, and on hearing of the affair, ordered the miserable creature, who by this time was worn away to a skeleton, to be brought. He clothed and fed her with his own hands, and sent her in a bag to the Brethren, undertaking to defray the expense of her education. She lived for many years after this deliverance, to the joy of her benefactor. fiy their newly formed habits of forethought and prudent economy, the Christian Greenlanders were pre- pared against the present dearth of every common article of food j and could even spare a part of their 1<755— 17570 WAVERING OF CONVERTS. HI stock for their destitute countrymen, wha under the. pressure of hunger, flocked. in crowds to thf settlement, Want, with its anxious cares, appeal^ to have be- numbed the senses of these poor people, atid rendered tlieir hearts more than ol^inarily callous to religious ^ adt^onitions. A stirring, however, still subsisted among the peighbouring heathen, though nOt so univfersally difiused as it had been twelve years ago. It was flow ' JIG more the practice of the native assistants to address them on serious subjects, unless they were invited s6 to do ; for they ha.d long been acquainted witlitthie word of God, and were cloyed witni it. When tK«y even requested advice, their various shifts and evasions, too plainly attested the undetermined, vacillabtng dis- position of their n^iqds. " I have two wills,** was ith^ avowal of one of them, ** the one yielding^ the other resisting; these two wills are perpetinilly at variance, and as yet the fisting will always prevails." The celebr^ira old divi(1er, Kassiak, often pressed them to vi^it him, and instruct his family in the know- ledge of the truth. But when they suggested the propriety of his setting them a good example by turn- ipg with his whole heart to God, he iRplied : ** My spirit indeed is never without some indination to it, but my flesh is too weak." And a scholar of the Angekoks, at the close of a long conversation with a Qreenland assistant, lamented, that though at one time he had earnestly applied himself to the work of con- version, he was now so far involved in the practices of his profession, that he greatly doubted, whether his former convictions would ever take effect. To these melancholy instances of irresolution and weakness, the open sincerity and singleness of heart, with which many others sought the society of the be- lievers^ formed a pleasing contrast. Several children, who had forsaken botli father and mother to follow Jesus, were happily the means of drawing their rela- tions after them. A reputable Greenlander in Pissik- sarbik, who bad been for many years acquainted with V 'i l' ' t- ■ Vrl^ '.|*'i '.m it.' .••J ■ •■ /! 'Pf ■■•!,.' , 1 -' !V:.' -i 14f TRIUMPHS OP THE GO&PEL* tmr/. the Brethr«[ii> but could not resolve to leave kk native place, bein|^^ the capelin fisher3^ met accidentally with his <|M]gbt0', who had rentoved frorn him and was baptized. He soon gave hi^,to understand how highly he iteseoted her conduct, iP'withdrawing from her pit. ternal roof^to form a new connection ; but she met nis anj^v reproof, by modestly stating the reasons which bad induced her to take this step, enlarged on the hap. piness of the believers, and concluded with telling him: ^*You too may share in this felicity ; but if you will »ot» I cannot stay and perish wi^i you.'* His wrath fell at once, his heart was softened, and he began to weep; he repaired with his daughter to the mission* ary, and declared, that so far from compelling her to to ileave tb^ believers, as * he had intended, he would join them himself. Not long after, he came according to his promise, bringing with him his two sons and the re^t or bis familv. He expressed his ljfrii> that his chil- dren might all be baptized, for they^^re young, and had a desire to devote themselves to Jesu^. As for him- self, he said, that he was in a very indifferent state, and could not e^6Ct to make much proficiency in Christi- anity ; but tUt atill he often recalled to mind, wf^itilt had heard of the Redeemer, and had come thither pur. posely to hear something more. He often came to en. quire, whether the baptism of his eldest son would not «oon take place : " I myself," said he, " dare not think of such a favour, being very bad, and old too; yet I will live and die with you, for it refreshes my soul to to hear of our Saviour." 1757. — A. cold,-8tormy season in the beginning of the next year, again locked up the shore and the islands of the bay with ice, and putting a stop to all navigation, produced an universal famine, more terrible in its' effects than that of the preceding year. One dismal account followed another, of children perishing with hunger^ and of old helpless people being interred alive. Iti Maccl), wlien the distress was at its height, two Bre- thren visitecl the savages in Kangek. Near a forsaket) 1,7^0 mSCELLANEOUS OCCURRENCBSI. 143 dwelling, fhey found fifteen persons almost starved to death, lying in a small out'-house, so low that it was im;' possible to stand upright in it ; and they were under the necessity of creeping in on their hands and feet The iniserabie tenants of this hovel had no fire, but liay one upon another in all directions to keep themselves warm ; for they had consumed all their lamp oil, and on this account quitted their house. Nor had they a morf- sel of food ; for very faintness, they did not care ta raise themselves, or to speak with the missionaries on their entrance. At length a man brought a couple of fish from the sea. A girl seized one of them, raw as it was, tore it in pieces with her teeth, and gorged it down with unsated voracity. Her face was of a ghastly piUeness. Indeed, four of the children of these poor people had already expired in the pangs of hunger* The Brethren distributed among them part of their own scanty stock, and advised them to go to New Hermhut 'b'i further relief. Though thejr showed some dislike r this proposal, as they had no inclination to hear the Gospel, or to have any communication with the believ- iri^£rreenlanders, they soon after repaired thitlier, and hi^i accommodations prepared for them. At first their kji^tite was insatiable ; they even wient to the dust- heaps in search of fish-bones, dready sufficiently chewed, and pieces of old shoes. Many other poor suiSbrers had also recourse to the charity of th^ir Chris- tian countrymen, who williirgly supplied their wants, though frequently reduced to extreme scarcity them- selves. Adversity itself, however, if unattended by the con- victions of the Holy Spirit, is unable to beat down the strong-holds, which human pride! and unbelief build up against the approaches of truth. Not one of the poor creatures, whom we have ^ust seen delivered from a miserable death, remained in the settlement, even of such as had relations in the place, who used all tfaeir endeavours to induce them to stay. And others who came for food, as soon as their hunger was satisfied, hastened away as fast as possible. Iff \',' f 1* -* ' I 1^ ' ,U \ lU MMCELLANBOUa OCCUBBBirCES. PW. It WAS usual, in former years, for the number of inha- bitants to receive an annual accession of thirty, «ixty, or even of seventy new people ; but in the present, no fnore than seven strangers joined them. Among^tbese, were the two sonn of the famous Angekok Kassiak, whio had heard the Gospel for many years, and were now determined to forsake Paganism and sorcery. The father was not averse to their resolution; bethought them happy, but he could not decide upon following their example. He assigned as a reason for his back- wardness, that he was much too wicked a man to be converted, and was apprehensive, that if he were to live with his children in New Hermhui, he should disi> honour his profession, and be driven away with igno- miny. Nor was it in the power of the missionaries, by any remonstrances, to shake him from his purpose. On making their dispositions for^the winter, the ni!imber of inhabitants amounted to little short of 400. Health and external prosperity enlivened all hearts. They were richly provided with stores, having not unfrequently, during the summer, caught a hundred seals in a day, and not one was lost at sea amidst the perils of the pursuit. In one instance, a Greenlander^ beinff beset by the ice, and in danger of being crumbed tH death, was obliged to jump upon a large flake; and drag his kajak with a seal after him for three miles, frequently breaking in up to the arm-pits^ Another time, a woman's boat split in two. But four kajaks instantly rowed up to the spot, and lashing themselves two and two together, conveyed the female party safe to land. As a missionary was going with some Greenlanders in an umiak to the Sound, afler they had rowed a considerable way, their boat began to sink, and their danger was observed by those on shore, who immediately sent to apprize them of their situation. It was only with the utmost exertion, that thev effected a timely landing. On un- loading the boat, they found a large hole in the bottom, which they sewed up, and put out again to sea. A widower, on the point of a new marriage, went out 1757r] DESTRUCTION OF AN fNDIAN 8BTTLBMENT. 1*4(5 to catch some fish fbr his wedding-dinner. On his return, he overset; but as he was not far from ]and, he crept out of his kajak, laid himself' fltit uj^on if, and committijtipf himself to the mercy of the waves, was driven by them to the shore. Among the accounts, which were every month read to the congregation, and which supplied cheerfiri and edifying subjects of conversation for the long evenings of a polar winter, were obituaries of European children, letters and diaries relating to the enslaved Negroes, and reports from Germany of the preservr ation of the churches amidst the troubles and devast- ations of war; — narratives, which gave occasion to a variety of natural reflections, but all leading to this grateful conclusion, that though they lived on a barren soil, under a rigorous and unkindly climate, yet they were blessed with a mild government, and could serve their God without molestation, free from so large a proportion of the many plagues, which 4e3olate the earth. . Nothing ever touched them so deeply as the ac- count of the destruction of the Indian settlement, at Gnadenhiltten in Pennsylvania, by a party of savages in November 17^^. * When they were told,.that mostt of the. European Brethren and Sisters were massacred, but that the Indians had escaped to the congregation at Bethlehem; and that these poor refugees, together with a multitude of other unfortunate creatures, who had lost their all, were hospitably received at that place ; they were so affected, that they burst into loud weeping, and eagerly came forward to m?ke a con- tribution for the relief of their distressed brethren. One said: "I hai'/e a fine rein-deer skin, which I will give." — " I,^* cried another, " have a pair of new rein-deet- boots, which I will send them." — ** And I," added a third, <* will send them a seal, that they K 147 II * See Loskiel's Hktory qf the Mission among the North American Indians. Part H. p. 166. VOL. II. L I'f '} iji/, )^ 146 flPEtCR OF DANIEL. [1757. I 1747J may have someihing to eat and to burn/' Though their contributions, when turned into money, were l)iut of little valdei the missionaries did not choose to reject, what was so fVeely ofiered, and dji;ec^d the amount of the whole to be transmitted to the sufferers In Attierica, as a proof at the power of vital Chris- tianity; to ennoble and expand the most uncultivated hearts. In harmony with this untutored expression of awakened benevolence, were the artless declarations and discourses of the native assistants. They were simply uttered as they wisre simply felt ; and coming fr HermhuU They were forced to roll the stones to the spot, carry the earth in baes, and fetch the sods by water from another place, fhey had brought some laths for the roof from New Hisrnhutf but no timber; neither could they find any for a considerable time in the sea, fit for their purpose. But the wall being finished, it happened, just as they were going out in their boat on some busi- ness, not far from the house, that they met with two suitable pieces of timber, which, had they waited any longer, would have been carried off by the next tide. In short, it seemed as if an angel had wafted these planks thither, at the time of their greatest necessity, and they received them joyfully, as a present from the hand of God. Their liouse consisted of a room five yards square, and a small apaitmentta serve as a kitchen. The roof was nearly six feet high, without ceiling, and supported by two pil- lars ; the latlis were covered with a double layer of sods. 175a.] PROCEEDINGS OF MATTHEW STACH. 153 cemented with earth \ and to keep out the rain, old tent skint were spread over the whole, the walls being lined with the same. After they entered their new dwelling, the winter set in with rain and snow, and little was to be done out of doors. Meanwhile, theGreenlanders also built a house, which they entered on October 14th. At first they found it diflicult to maintain themselves ; but afterwards disco- vered, not far from home, a strait throuffh which the seals ran into a narrow bay, where they found it prac* ticable to prevent their escape, and thus killed a number. They were thereby enabled to furnirh the factor with four barrels of blubber. All declared, iijat they hf d never seen seals there before, and could not but acknowledge, that the appearance of these animals was a special pro- vidence for their support. it was not lon^ beiore Oreenlanders came to visr'l ihe Brethren, sometimes instigated by curiosity, ^ut mostly by a desire to hear the Gospel. The gre/ito part of them lived near the factory, or on the other side of the island. The distance of either place was at least six miles over rugged cliffs and vallies ; yet they came fre- quently, especially at Christmas, the men by water, and the women by land, in order to hear the word of God, returning home aeain by night. The missionary likewise visited the heatnen. Their desire to hear of Jesus, made the way easy to him, though, in itself, difficult and dangerous. On one of his excursions, his foot slipped, and he tumbled heullong down the hill, but fortunately received no hurl, as he fell into a wreath of snow. In this labour, the Greenland Bre- thren assisted them, not without success. Besides some widows, their children, and a few single- women, two families came with an intention to fix their res'dence at the settlement. They heard the Gospel not without profit ; but contraiy to the general obser- vation, that Greenland women are more eager for spiritual things than the men, the latter were, in the next year, again seduced into heathenism by their wives. .»• ■■I ft, C W.I', .f .y'X i. ■ ■ ■■?■ ■.^iS , ■ •« -"-'I '.. mi . ■ fmt * MA 154 NEW CONGREGATION. [1758. The siniill beginning of a Greenland congregation was regulated in the same manner as New Hermhut, The sermon on Sunday, and other publiq meetings, were held in the Greenlanders' house ; but ^he Holy Communion, and the meetings of the biptized, in the Brethren's house, in which the school was also kept. It was matter of joy, that while they were praying the litany for the first time, during the rehearsal of the Lord's prayer, such emotion was raised in every heart, that the tears trickled down their cheeks. On account of the above-mentioned seduction, the congregation was only increased by the birth of one infant, and was, on the other hand, diminished by the untimely death of a young man called Joel, who perished in the sea. ** It is singularly afiecting," writes the missionary, "to have seen a brother lively and vigor- and a short time after, to hear that he has fallen a ous. prey to the waves, leaving his body to be tossed about in the raging ocean, as food for the fishes. I could not tell what was the matter with me yesterday. I ascended the hill several times to look at the sea, without know- ing why, although I had frequently been uneasy about Joel, because heventured beyond the reach of his abilities. He was of a cheerful and upright disposition, and, when addressed on the subject of the Atonement, his tears testified heart-felt emotion. He assisted me diligently in translating. His last work was a passion hymn, in which he expressed lively joy at the words : ♦* Had I of him a vision, — my heart would tell me soon, — it was no apparition, — bat God my flesh and bone." But to return to New Hermhut, The preaching of the Gospel, both publicly and privately, proceeded with spi- rit ; visits from the heathen were not unfrequent. Espe- cially a great many from the south were there in sum- mer, visiting their relations, some of whom displayed complete apathy to religion, others forbade their rela- tions to listen to the Gospel, because, as they said, ex- amples frequently occurred of young people, who had only once or twice lent an attentive ear to the preach- ing of the Cross, being bewitched, and deprived of rest, 1758.] NEW CONGREGATION. 166 till they joined the believers, often to the grief of their relations. The missionary who accompanied the congregation on the capelin-fishery, frequently found attentive hearers from among tnirty or forty families, who en- camped on the same island with our Greenlanders. During their absence, our people were frequently re- quested to preach the word of life in the houses of the natives, and their simple testimony was not without benefit, but induced many individuals, nay even large families, to change their abode, though often to the de- triment of their temporal concerns. Owing to their exertions, and those of the missionaries conjoined, twenty-two strangers this year united themselves to the company of believing Greenlanders. In externals the Greenlanders seldom suffered want, as there was scarcely any winter this year, considering the climate. In Januaiy more rain fell than snow, and when the latter increased, it was not accompanied with severe cold. The Greenlanders were never pre- vented by the state of the weather from going to sea, and were so successful, that few were necessitated to leave the neighbourhood till the season for capelins, when all betake themselves to the teeming seas. Of the internal course of the congregation during the iast years, we have delined giving any circumstantial narrative, because, though uniformly pleasing, it posses- ses little variety. As a short specimen of the method of discoursing usual among the missionaries, we subjoin the following passage from one of their sermons : " The grace which our Saviour confers upon us is inexpressi- ble. He is every day,|nay, every hour, with us. We cannot indeed see him with our bodily eyes, but our hearts can feel his presence, if we love him, and cleave to him as the angraarset * do to the rocks about which they swarm. Let them be driven away ever so often, they return immediately, striving to reach the * A species of lierring. t ! Ui -I :" 156 A CONVERTED FEMALE NATIVE. [I755. V * rocks. Just so ought we to cling to the person of Jesus." The habits of savages and the vicissitudes of their lives are necessarily so uniform, and the circumstances leading to their conversion, with all its consequences, so nearly alike, that a detailed narrative of them would be quite uninteresting to the general reader. We shall, therefore, only insert one short specimen of the life of a departed sister, beginning wi|h her conversion. " Maria Barbara came to New Hermhut with her father, when she was only twelve years old. She was soon thoroughly awakened by the Gospel, and baptized in the spring after her arrival, with the approbation of her parents. But they afterwards changed their minds, and going to the south, attempted both by force and fraud to carry off' their daughter. As she stood firm, and implored our protection with many tears, they were obliged to go without her, and she enjoyed a peacefi^l life till 1754, when her father and sister paid another visit to these parts, and attempted to snatch her away by stealth ; but she was quickly relieved from their devices, as both died shortly after their arrival. How- ever, she had still a kinsman, who did his best to seduce her, till he was removed by death. She then led a quiet and happy life, free from all apprehension. About a year ago she broke her leg, became a cripple, and at last fell into a consumption. All her bodily afflictions were borne with exemplary resignation, in expectation of a speedy release, whichjtranslated her into the man- sions of eternal bliss, on thedth of January." The dying declarations of almost all, who departed this year, were highly satisfactory to the missionaries. The following is an extract from a letter written by one of those sisters, who visited, Germany on her death- bed, to a dear friend in Europe : — " I am sensible of my insufficiency, but feel that our Saviour loves me. Therefore, with all my indigence, 1 will adhere to him. If He had not sought for me, I should still have remained in darkness. When I con- 1758.] flllTS OF THE NATIVES. 157 sider this, mv e^^es fill with tears. My dear Saviour! I have no other joy but in thee alone. ** This winter I have been very weak in body, and often had spitting of blood, but I have been very happy. " My dear A. C, I now send you the last kiss out of my heart. My body is exceedingly decayed by sick- ness, but I rejoice greatly in the prospect of that bless- ed moment, wli'^n our Saviour will call me. I shall then see his wounds, for I am redeemed with his pre- cious blood. Although I should have been willing to tarry a little longer with my sisters, yet I leave all to our Saviour. My greatest desire is to be with him. 1 love him, and shall love him without ceasing. 1 now, my dear A. C, feel myself too weak to proceed, but, with my eyes overflowing with tears, I once more sa- lute all the sisters that are with you. " Your dear Judith." 1759. — Frequent opportunities were again afforded this year of proclaiming the Gospel to quite strange heathen ; since many Southlanders, as they passed by on their journiies from the north, visited their relations and acquaintances in New HermhuU From the end of June to the beginning of August, scarce a day passed without some of those guests. Ignorance lay on their minds in its darkest shade ; yet, though their demeanor was wild, rude, and restless, some of them always at- tended the public preaching of the Gospel. Besides, the conversation of their believing countrymen seemed not in vain. At least by the means of the latter, what they had not rightly apprehended in the public discourses, was more clearly explained to them. The following is a striking instance of the impression made by the testimony of a converted heathen. We quote the words of the missionaries : — " Afte^' the sermon on Sunday, several Southlanders, who had frequently heard the Gospel, visited us. We asked, if they had ever before heard of our Sa- viour ? One said : * No j but we have heard of one ■;.| Hi. Il 1^8 FALSE ALARM. l^jV [17^. that is called God.' Then, as we were about to re- commend the atonement of Jesus to their attention, he said to a Greenland assistant, that stood, by : * Do thou speak to us ; our ears are incapable or under- standing the Europeans.' " The request was quite agreeable to our Greenland brother, and he testified of Him, who had given himself up ta death for our sins, so that it was a joy to hear him. He often repeated : ** So dead and stupid as you now. are, was I too formerly; but when I heard from tliese my teachers, that there is a Saviour, who has purchased salvation for poor, miserable men, I rejoiced at the news, and prayed to him, and he save me open ears and an open heart, to hear and to understand. And now you may easily see, that I am happy ; and I can wish you nothing better, than that you also may sub- mit to be made happy." The power of the most High Accompanied his testimony, and many an involuntai^ sigh escaped from the savages during nis address. One young man was so moved, that he began to tremble, and said : ** I would gladly come to this Saviour, but my people always keep me back." But when they were asked, whether they would not live a winter here, they made various excuses ; for in- stance, that there were not so many rein-deer hereabouts as in tke South y that they had eaten none for a long time, and could not overcome their longing after this fiesh ; but that, when they had eaten their fill, they would come again, and hear of their Redeemer. Shortly after, the inhabitants of New Hermhut, and its neighbourhood experienced a false alarm. A Green- lander of DiskO'JBai/, who had been with a whale-fisher to Amsterdam, and returned this year, spread a rumour, that next spring many ships would come, and kill all the Europeans, with all the Greenlanders thai were found in the settlement. This report drove many hea- then out of the neighbourhood of the mission. About twenty boats full of Southlanders, who had come into these parts, hastened back again ', almost all in Kangek accompanied them, and only four strangers remained ^ ttfs^. 1759.] success OF THE MISSIONARIES. 159 in New Hermhut, Nevertheless, our Greenland as- sistants, while at a distance from the settlement, fre- quentLy transmitted pleasing accounts of their success among the natives. Two of them, who had been dis- patched with letters to Fisher* s Bay and Frederia^s haabf had frequent opportunities, on their journey, to proclaim th6 Gospel, by the express desire of the na- tives. One, on his return from the bay, related that Persok, a heathen, who had been long acquainted with us, had talked with him almost a whole night, and said among the rest, that he was now as eager after salva- tion« as the sea-birds after the fishes, who swallow them whole for eagerness. About three weeks after, he moved with his whole family to the Brethren. The open and affecting declaration of the baptized in private conversations with their teachers, tended greatly to the encouragement of the missionaries. These conversations are much too prolix for insertion; but are the more surprising, when we consider tlie close reserve peculiar to the Greenlanders, who betray their meaning rather by their deportment than by their short, abrupt answers, contrived so as to wrap their real sen- timents in the thickest obscurity. ;g Even among the children, some were found, who appeared to have a clear insight into gospel-truth. A child, six years, old, said in a conversation with the missionary : " I will honestly confess that I sometimes behave ill. When certain persons (naming them) teaze me, I speak roughly to them ; but, if they will still not let me alone, I grow angry, and give them as much in rieturn. By this my heart is hardened. But, when I go to our Saviour, and pray him to soften my heart, I am well again." To one celebration of the Communion, seven persons were refused admission, on account of ill behaviour, and apparent indifference. This discipline was commonly attended with speedy reformation. The Greenland assistant, among the widows, related, that going out 'a itli some of her sisters to gather bilberries, she missed one of them, and afler a long search, found her behind a rock. j^? ^■' .:'t| ■,V. '„■;•'». •if?'* ■ :.l. ,- .1 Ml , I '1 ■ ? ;,;.r >>i3 ' '■«.■•' 'it .>'^'^-;,f'i 160 OCCURllENCES AT LICHTENFELS. [1759. iying upon her face, weeping and praying. Bfeing asked the reason, she answered: "I was the last time excluded from the Lord's Supper, and now I fear greatly, that I shall not have leave to go to it the next time^ I would not be deprived of it any longer : therefore I prayed te our Saviour." This year, John Beck and his wife returned from their visit in Germany, and brought with them an acceptable present to the Greenlanders ; namely, a translation of the four Evangelists, harmonized, and a small collection of hymns, which he, with the assistance of other Brethren, had translated, and now got printed afresh. With him came a. new missionary, Henry Huckel, from Moravia, who was to superintend the coq. cerns of the youns men. At the s^me time, Matthew Stach and Joens Haven, came on a visit, from the new congregation at Fisher's Inlet, in order to concert mea- sures for its improvement with the other missionaries ; especially with Frederic Boehnisch, who was soon about to visit Germany, with his wife. The Danish mission- ary, the Rev. Mr. Bruun, who came in the year 175% to Gotthaab, intended to return. with his family, in the same ship. His farewell with the Brethren was friendly and aiffecting, and he particularly requested them to treat his successor in the same manner, as they had constantly treated him. They assured him, that bis request should be complied with. On his arrival with. the. ship at the colony of Zukkertop, he learnt that his successor, who was to come from Disko, was not likely to arrive. He therefore sent ofi'his family to Copenhagen, and returned to Gotthaab, The next year he was relieved by the Rev. . Mr. Gregersen, and was aflerwards appointed minister of Slagelse in Zeeland. With respect to the small congregation at Lichten- fels, * on Fisher's Bay, there was but little appearance of any increase till the end of this year. Many South- landers, indeed, stopped there, on their journies, and * Light-rock, so called from its being environed with naked 17590 OCCURRENCES AT LICHTENFfiLS. 161 heard the word of God their Creator, an^ of the redemption obtained by his blood, with astonishment, and not altogether without emotion, but none of them could be prevailed upon to stay. However, the mission- aries were glad that they had got some intelh'gence of the Gospel, and knew where to seek for it, when they wanted comfort. Among the rest, the practising Angekok of that neighbourhood, paid tliem a visit, with his wife. Both protested that they were desirous of being converted, and were onl'' sorry, that the missionary would not believe them. Unfortunately, he had good reason to doubt their sincerity, knowing that their only design in keeping up a connection with him, was to deter their enemies from revenging a murder, to which they had been accessary, and to make the Greenlanders place confidence in them, as being such as loved what is good, though they busied themselves continu- ally in fomenting discord. In general it was apparent that the Angekoks cultivated the acquaintance of the missionaries, in order to collect various opinions con- cerning supernatural things, which they might retail to the gaping crowd, and thus gain a reputation for wisdom equal to that of the Europeans. ' The Greenland assistants were more expert in detect- ing them than the missionary. When the latter once enquired of an old Brother, why he would not speak with an Angekok, concerning the way of salvation, he replied : ** It answers no good end to speak on such precious subjects to these people, who are full of deceit, and make use of every thing as poison." On the other hand, when visiting the east side of the island, Stach met with two people, whose words evinced, that where the good seed falls on good ground it never fails to spring up at last, though it may be hid for many years*, " We found," says the missionary, " this time, only one sick man with his wife and children at home. The woman said ; * My husband form 3rly placed confidence in conjurors, but now he minds them no more. When he is in great pain, he says : Ah ! pray to our Saviour VOL. II. *s ( ; ht ••:«^;i tt'V - j. i .(i . ''n''i •1 M ■;t^::f! U)« PROOREBS OF CONVERSION. CI759. for me. * But I, poor woman, am myself very ignorant. I have indeed heard something from the little mi- nister, (Mr. Drachart,) at Godhaab ; but iiirhither is it fled!' As she said this, the tears ran down her cheeks. We felt uncommonly comfortable with these people, and reminded them anew of the compassionate heart of our Saviour." A powerful emotion was also observable among the Greenlanders at the factory, and they came diligently to Lkkterifels to hear the word of God. Two families had determined to remove to the Sb^tlement, but were diverted from their purpose, by views of temporal emolument ; and some who had lived there last win- ter, went away at the instigation of their wives, who could not live in abundance and jollity, as among the heathen. One man died shortly afler in Innuksukf praying ear- nestly for the pardon of his sins. He had previously sent messengers to his relations in Lichter^eUt desiring them to take his corpse, and bury it with the believers. His last words had made such a deep impression on his wife, that afler some time she came full of anguish to the Brethren, and begged, with tears, that favour of which she had deprived her husband. Her request was granted. Meanwhile another family came quite unex- pectedly firom a distance of twenty-four miles to the settlement, and were received before the end of the year into the number of candidates for baptism. Amidst all their outward and inward poverty, grace and life were perceptible amongst the little flocK of the baptized. They could not indeed forget New Herm- hut, and the Brethren were forced to send one family thither again ; neither did they meet with immediate success in providing necessaries, being as yet unac- quainted with the country. But their hearts were comforted ; they tasted the sweetness of the word of God, and lived together in obedience, love, and peace. One of the missionaries relates, that once in the evening meeting, on Sunday, when he had done speak- ■,.;,! 1751X] PERILOUS ESCAPES. im mg, the Greenlanders propounded several questions, the explanation of which took up more time than the discourse itself. Several new hymns were translated for their use, which they showed an uncommon desire to learn. Most of them were selected from the Medi- tations of the memorable Count Zinzendorf. The Greenlanders assured the missionaries, that when they were obliged in summer to be absent from their teachers, and to spend whole months, either alone on an island, or in the company of the heathen, they frequently sung these hymns, with tearful eyes. At such times, it was pleasing to remark, in spite of how many temptations to indifference, levity, and sin, they could preserve the treasure which they had received, unimpaired. Their maintenance was not only difficult, as before observed, but the manner of procuring it was attended with various dangers. It stands recorded, that four of our Brethren, in a dreadful snow-storm, tiell among the driving ice, and could neither get backwards nor for- wards. Afler long and wearisome toiling, they at length made the land, but the waves were so impetuous and boisterous, that they could not go on shors without being dashed to pieces against the rocks. They only wished that one might escape to tell the fate of the rest. At last, however, the tide dispersed the pieces of ice in such a manner, that they could proceed on their way, and they arrived safe and well at Lichtenfels, -m Two Greenlanders, dispatched with letters to Fre- dericshaab, related on their return, that they were obliged to sit two nights in their kajaks upon the ice, which at first kept continually breaking, till at last they met with a firm piece. During the third night, they arrived at a house. Had they not met with this asylum, they must have perished with thirst, having bad no water for two days and nights. The sweat occasioned by their severe labour, liad penetrated through their clothes, and was instantly congealed into ice by the extreme cold. Their kajaks were much damaged, and one person had his hand frozen. M 2 It: y'^ i.l*» Tfl- L' 'fit i'i :'>m' t 1C4 STORMS. Li7(io. In November there was a violent storm, v;1uch made the Brethren's house tremble as if'therchad been an earth- quake, though it was very low, situate under a hill, and had walls u yard and a quarter thick. In the surround- ing country, many Greenland houses were unroofed, numerous boats shattered and carried into the air, and eight men lost at sea. Our people had found it {)ossibie in due time to secure most of their articles ying on the shore, from the overwhelming violence of the waves. * Both beibre and after the storm, balls of fire were seen in the air in several places. One of them that fell close to a house, had begun to set fire to it. Similar phenomena were observed just before Christmas, at mid-day, while the sun shone in un- clouded splendour. Thet storm split and tore open the ice, but at the same time blocked up the holes with snow ; and while Peter Rudberg, one of the Brethren, was crossing a pond the next day, the frozen snow gave way under him, and he fell into the water. Having a belt round his body, his fur coat expanding on the surface, held him up, till he could reach the bottom with his long leaping stafll He then threw himself backwards upon the firm ice, and succeeded in gaining the land. I76O. — The new year did not remove the distress occasioned by the scarcity of food ; for the frost was so keen till towards the end of May, that the sea was ice-locked as far as the eye could reach from the summits of the highest mountains. Cries of famine resounded from all quarters. Our people suffered least ; yet even they were obliged to support life with nothing but a few crow-berries left on the ground during * During another tempest, which took place on the 22d of September, 1757, without rain or snow, the flashes of lightning were more frequent and vivid than they had ever been seen before by the oldest inhabitants, yet not the smallest rumbling of thunder was heard, nor could any traces of the effects of the fluid be discovered. Some imagined that they felt the shock of an earthquake. f The influence of this storm must have been very extensive* a> it was remarked that during it many ships were cast away in the North Sea, Cattegat, and Baltic. 1760.] SUCCESS OF THE MISSIONARIES. la^ the winter, and some small fishes. The missionaries tliemselves, being reduced to great straits, could afford little relief to the indigence of the Greenlanders. However, the visits for propagating the Gospel 8uf!ered no intermission, though they seemed at first to bring forth little fruit. Near the factory, indeed, the missionary found the Greenlanders very desirous to hear ; and when he had preached in one house, they followed him into another. They also frequently at- tended the sermon at Lichtenfels ; yet no lasting im- pression seemed to be made. Their case was just as a Greenland woman once described it : "I know not how it is ; we always will be converted, and yet nothing comes out of it; we still prefer other things before our Saviour." The visiting of the Greenlanders on the east side seemed to promise more fruit. They also frequently came to the settlement. " Among the rest," writes the missionary, *« three women visited us. During my address to them, I explained one of our most beautiful hymns. They learned it by rote, and said, * This we will take home with us.* ** Heathens likewise oflen came from other parts of the country to Lichtenfels, who at least showed a liking for the Gospel. One man who had been at the sermon, returned very much pleased, and said to his wife : ** It is very agreeable to hear such things. If the Brethren lived nearer the sea, I would instantly move to them, and become a believer." Another, whose daughter had been received among the catechumens, was asked, what he thought when he heard such discourses con- cerning our Saviour. He replied : " I think that I am good for nothing ; but as my children have a great desire to hear such things, I will not hinder them; and perhaps I shall sometime follow them hither, for indeed it is very agreeable to be here, because the people love one another so much." But bare hearing, visiting, and promising, was not all. The year of release for the heathen in these parts also, was come ; and the seed which had been sown 8 ii fS. '. .' ' « .; \\. m M - J i 'MM IM OlATH OF COUNT ZINXENDORF. [1760. in hope began to spring up. T!u imlj family that came last year, became partakers oi \o)y h«iptisin, on the celebration of Christ's manifestation to the Gentiles^ January 6th. There was some resemblance between this family, and that of Samuel Kajarnak. Both con- sisted of a father, mother, son, and daughter ; both came from the south, were quite ignorant, and yet got the start of those who had long sat under the sound of the Gospel. They had a son bom in May, who, eleven days after it was baptized, returned to its Creator. With its remains, a Iiill was dedicated as a burying. place. At Whitsuntide there was a baptism of a single woman, who came from the east side of the island, and had lived here all the winter. She delivered on this occasion, a joyful confession of her faith, and afler- wards received the washing of regeneration, during a powerful sense of the divine presence, attended wi^h abundance of tears, shed by all present. She wa» called Agnes. A short time after a ship arrived, and brought the agreeable news, that next year they should be furnished with a dwelling house, and a chapel. These tidings confirmed their hopes, that this work of the Lord, begun in great weakness, would be attended with prosperity. But their joy was soon after damped by the painful intelligence, that death had removed the Ordinary of the Brethren's church, Count Zinzendorf^ from his ex- tensive sphere of usefulness on earth. This distressing event took place on the 9th of May at HermhuU Their sorrow was the keener, as they were sensible that the Lord had not only made use of this extra- ordinairy man, as an instrument for restoring the Bre- thren's church, and for the promulgation of spiritual life in the Christian worlds but also in a particular manner for the conversion of the heathen, a project which he had cherished from his infancy. They knew that he had furthered and supported the missions by his prayers, by his wise counsels, by his personal activity. <% 1760.] INCBEA8C AT LICHTENFELS. m and by all his worldly possessions, even at the hazard of his life; and the important benefits which had accrued from his labours to the Brethren, and their work amons the heathen, as well as the loving hospitality with which he refreshed and entertained travelling missionaries in his house, had impressed an indelible sense of gratitude on their hearts. It was therefore not to be wondered at, that his unexpected departure caused such a sensation both in Lichtenfels and New Hermhut, and awakened a variety of anxious thoughts in the minds of the mis- sionaries. In this trial the recollection of the subjoined hymn contributed very much to lull all their inauietudes, into the repose of childlike dependence on the master whom they served. ^ ** The Lord doe* ever to his flock, Keep without separation, Abides their shield, defence, and rock, Their peace and their salvation, &c." Thev knew, that He who was dead, but is alive again, would more than supply the place of their departed bene- factor. Being thus powerrully animated by the Holy Spirit, the afflicting news operated as an incentive to ad- here more closely to the only Head of his Church, to sub- mit more entirely to his direction, to employ new vigour in his cause, and to tighten the bonds of that brotherly love, which as enjoined by the testament of Jesus, and enforced by the example of the disciple leaning on Christ's bosom, was observed by the late Count through life, and recommended with his dying breath. Their somewhat drooping spirits were soon after raised still more by the sudden increase of their little congregation. Two families, relations of the family above mentioned, came in July to the settlement, as they said, in order to be converted. In August came five brothers with all their connections. Accordingly, when the Greenlanders moved into their winter houses, they found that nine families, which, with single new- comers, amounted to fifty-five souls, were added to their flock. Sufficient room was now wanting for their meetings, which were for some time held in the- M 4 il^^^l riifo»« ■i.r •^ t'?^ ■¥■'.1: ■ m ■■■, ,';'i^--! 168 CONGERGATION At NEW 2iiERRNHUT. [1760. open air ; and the Greenlanders accordingly made an addition to their dwelling house, enlarging it to twenty-five yards in length, and five in breadth. The unmarried sisters and widows built each a; house for themselves ; and fourteen families besides sOme single persons, moved into the great house, in which the pub- lic meetings were held. Many of the baptized children gave the missionaries great joy. A little girl once said : " To be sure, our Saviour must be very lovely." Upon being asked the reason, she replied : " I have always such a plea- sant feeling wlien I hear him sung or spoken of." Speaking of her mother, who was i i a discontented state, she said, «« My mother is sick, her heart paina her." This woman aflbrded a striking proof that insincerity may discover itself even among nations esteemed the most stupid, and that the Spirit of God often makes use of the most trifling incidents to reclaim backsliders. Being instigated by malice and envy, she was continually finding fault with others, and at length absented herself from the meetings. When spoken to on this subject, she answered with sarcastic humility, «« 1 am indeed unworthy." She moreover attempted to seduce others, and upon re- ceiving a severe reproof from an unbaptized woman, removed with another whom she had made her partisan, to their heathen neighbours. They imme- diately requested her to tell tliem something of our Saviour, but she, finding her inability, grew uneasy there, and went with her daughter to a number of savages engaged in a merry-making. The child im- mediately began to cry, and begged to be carried back to the believers. By this means she was brought to repentance, went home, confessed her falseness to the missionaries, and then to the Greenlanders whom she had offended, begged their pardon with many tears, and was again received into their community. In New Herrnhut and the adjacent country, there was little opportunity for spreading the Gospel farther, as all the inhabitants, excepting four families, had flei. from Kangck and KookoetTienf being frightened away 1760.3 NATIONAL assistants' DISCOURSES. 169 by last year's rumour. For the same cause no South- landers visited this congregation ; but some, on their journey from the north, called there, of whom one family, besides several single persons were awakened, and remained in the place. The merchant also, on his return from Kellingeit, where he had been on business* brought back two widows and four children, who had entreated him to take them to their brothers and sisters in New Herrnhut, They were both wives of one man, who, as well as his' eldest son, was lost in his kajak. But though the < increase of inhabitants was very small^ the spiritual growth of the congregation was truly enlivening. The Passion Week and Easter were distinguished as days of peculiar blessing. It was truly delightful to hear the close and affecting addresses of the national assistants, who pourtrayed in lively colours to their believing and unbelieving countrymen, their own poverty, and the all-sufficient riches of the Atone- ment. We shall insert a few fragments. After first dwelling at large upon his own ignorance, before he knew any thing of Christ, one of them said : «* Ah ! it' our Saviour had not sent teachers to us, who have made known to us his passion, what would have become of us? But now we can enjoy his grace, and be happy if we will. Our Saviour has not called us hither to no purpose ; he will be near us and make us happy. As Eve was formed out of Adam's side, so are believers formed out of the side of Jesus, flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone." Another began thus: "Dear Brethren, you know that our Saviour endured great pains for our sakes, and that his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground. A woman when she beans a child, hath pain, but certainly it is not to be compared with what our Saviour endured for us. Now if he lived in our hearts, what a hap^^y life should we lead ! And it is our own fault that we have made such small experience of it, &c." Another declared, " that he frequently examined the situation of his own heart, and that when he found it cold and dry, he instantly betook himself, as a needy sinner, to the wounds of ., Sir-'* I; fm .(■i ■ii .Hi \ A-: 170 ARRIVAL OF BOEHNtSCH. [1761. Jesus." He compared his heart to a lamp, "which must have a sufficiency of oil, in order to give light and warmth to the house. Another said, among the rest : " We know well what pain we feel when a person under our authority is not obedient. By this we mayt:onceive what pain it must give our Saviour, when we will not obey him, though he intends nothing but our good. Oh ! How happy would it be for us if we always attended to the Holy Spirit ; whose delight it is to guide us to our Saviour. Of ourselves we cannot enter into communion with him."* Twelve persons died this year, all of when, in their last moments, manifested, with difierent degrees of aidour, a joyful hope of a happy futurity. 1761. — • On the first of August this year the mission- ary Boehnisch with his wife, arrived again in Greenland after their visit in Germany, f They had a very pefi.'. ous passage of eleven weeks from Copenhagen to New Hermhut. When in the neighbourhood of the sunken land of Bus, they were scarcely able to make six leagues in three weeks, and had in the sequel to encounter five storms, the most danger- ous of which overtook them near Statenhuk. On the other hand, the north and west winds, which detained them so long, had cleared their course of floating ice, so that, with the exception of several huge mountains, which lay at some distance, there was no obstacle to oppose their entrance into BaaPs River, Unfortu- nately before they could run in, a sudden calm ensued, and the ship, carried by a rapid tide of fiood, was in the utmost danger of being stranded on the Kookoerrien * The authenticity of these discourses may be relied upon, as the missionaries were present at their delivery, and immediately took them down in German. In Crantz's work they are given at length, but they have been purposely curtailed. f With them Crantz went over, in order to take a vietv of the country, and from his own observation, and the records laid before him, to compile a history, which, to use his own words, may be de- pended on as just and true. 1761.] ARRIVAL OF SOUTHLAMDERS. 171 rocks, which lay just before them. However, when they were only about a musket-shot from destruction. He who has the wind and waves at his command, gave them a sufficient breeze to hold off to sea, and escape. On the return of the ship, Sept. I76S, a still more surprising accident happened. As she was passing into the open sea with a gentle breeze, between the Kookoemen and the so called Fisher's Rock, it fell suddenly calm. The vessel was instantly enveloped with a thick fog, and in the same moment, owing to the change of the current at the turn of the tide, was vio- lently driven between the Fisher's Rock and an invisible island. The ship's yawl and a pilot boat from the colony were immediately fastened to her, but could not move her from the spot. They, however, saved her from being cast on the hidden rocks. As soon as the merchant and our Brethren from the highest of the Kangek islands, spied the ship in this distress, they collected and manned all the women's boats they could find there, hastened to the assistance of the ship, and towed her, after toiling for ten hours, into a small haven off Kangek, from whence she set sail the next day without farther interruption. This year a great swarm of Soutlilanders again paised by to the north, and some families Hy ed their abode tor a whole year upon the islands. Thus linother opportunity was offered of preaching the Gospel tv perfectly ignorant heathens, and gaining a prize nov/ and then from among them. Concerning this event, w shall inseieji few extracts from the diary: "On the 6th of July we had again South- landers here. They would not enter the chapei, but came in crowds into our rooms, spoke of their fine country in the south, and endeavoured to persuade us to accompany them thither. * Then,' said they, * we will live with you, and hear you.' On our attempting to recommend to their notice, the sufferings of Christ, and the happi- ness of believers, they said that they did n )t understand the discourse of Europeans, and that their ears were incapable of comprehending such strange words, about an immortal soul, a Creator and Saviour. Just then, ^^H:m I: .'' *-' y\ -ill '¥■-:■. ■ I;' ti.fc,?l hi 172 SPEECH OF A GREENLANDER. [1761. Daniel, the Greenlander, entered the room. * Now/ said we, * here comes a Greenlander, whose words you will understand.' We desired him to make the matter plain to them. He accordingly addressed them in a pretty long discourse, which displayed a great knowlege of his subject, and breathed a warmth of Christian feeling not easily to be surpassed. Though delivered in the presence of the merchants, it flowed from the Greenlander's heart v/ith uncommon freedom of utterance, and threw the heathen into visible agitation.* Perhaps the subsequent stay of a widow with her two daughters in the settlement, may be traced to this discourse. Also, a fortnight after, two other families brought their capelins into our store-house, as a token that they intended to live here." It gave the Brethren great joy to see Kangek and Kookoernerii which they considered as the outer court of the congregation, again replenished, '^fter they had stood empty for nearly seven years. Some came from time to time to visit them, and their willingness to hear was evidently on the increase. Some stayed altogether, and the Brethren inherited the relicts of others. Thus, in autumn, a dead man was brought to them from Kookoernerit who had desired to be buried noar the be- lievers, because he had intended in his life tim3, to live in New Hermhut. His two wives also cam-; with their children at the same time. He had ordered the concu- bine to stay with the Brethren, but his leal wife to join her friends in Kariak. However, when the latter saw that our Greenlanders were solicitous to provide also for her and her sou, she chose to remain here. On the other hand, a widow, who had taken refuge in her dis- tress to the baptized, was dismissed for having privately sent off her son, who promised well, with some visiting savages, fearing lest he should be baptized. " Upon hearing,'* the missionaries write, " that an old man had died in Kookoernen, whose children had * Those who wish to read the speeclt at length, may refer to the former version of Crantz's work, p. 330. It is too long for insertion here. e concu- 1761.] VISIT OF lUERENSICX TO KANGEK. 17s often betrayed a wish to join the Brethren, two of our assistants went thither to learn their minds. They were still undetermined, as it is a custom of tiie Greenlanders to remain a full year on the spot where any of their relatives die, to bewail their loss, except some infectious distemper prevails there; but Daniel reasoned them out of their superstitious notions, and brought their family, consisting of six persons, with him to the settlement. It was evident that the Spirit of God had already begun a work of grace in their souls. In December, John Soerensen went with some Greenlanders to Kangek. His words found acceptance, and Daniel assisted him faithfully in expatiating on the happiness resulting i'rom connection witli our Saviour. Several of the heathen were much moved. Among the rest a single man, called Kigu- tikak, resolved, as soon as his kajak was finished, to join the Brethren. This man, having his feet frozen, had them cut off. He now creeps along upon his knees, but can get in and out of his kajak without assistance, and gain a sufficient livelihood, nay, even goes better clothed than many of his neighbours." The missionary, on his return, brought four women with him, who intended to remain a few days in the settlement, in order to hear more of our Saviour. A short time before Christmas the father of one of them Ciune with his two brothers, to fetch his daughter away. She made earnest remonstrances, being desirous to be converted. When she found that all her en- treaties were unavailing, and they were preparing to take her away by force, she ran into the chapel and implored our protection. The father and his brothers were called to her, and the former took great pains to persuade her to go with him. He assured her that she should only stay over the winter with him ; and that in spring, he himself would come to New Herrnhuty and be converted. His assurance was confirmed by his two brothers, who promised her fine new clothes and the like. But nothing was to be done with her ; she wept, and when they seized her, in order to carry her h i • ' 1 '' ■ '1 r , j, ' !•'!.' '.f ^ • ;, V ■ ''5i I ' ^ J m u 174 AWAK£MINO AMONG THE HEATHEHT. [1761. I76I.] f;l ofi\ she began to shriek and tremble, so as to move the compassion of all the bye-standers. She ^as asked if any one had persuaded her to come to the settlement, or to stay there ; and upon answering in the negative, was asked again : " Wny then will you not go with your father ?** She replied, " Because I wish to be con- verted." «* Now," said the missionaries to her rela- tions, ** you see that we do not entice your daughter away ; she may return whenever she pleases, but you must not require us to force her away, or persuade her to be gone, when she wishes to belong to our Sa- viour. But what if you yourselves would remain and follow her example ? You would never repent of it." The father, after some consideration, said : " If iny daughter stays, I will stay too." But his two brothers, who also seemed agitated, said : «^We will first go to the North to our eldest brother, and at our return, we will live here." The father then sent them to Kangek, to fetch his goods and his son ; but his daughter went out of the way, till they were gone, lest they should carry her off by surprise. About this time a number of savages came on a visit from the£e//f72^eiV islands, which lie about twenty leagues to the south. It was perceptible, that there was an awakening among the heathen there. The factor also brought from thence a boy, who manifested a degree of docility far above the generality of his countrymen, and soon made rapid progress in the knowledge of Chris- tian truth. He had been used by the heathens as a kind of comedian. At the conclusion of the year it was found that twenty -five souls, ar ong whom were fifteen children, had been added to the congregation, and that thirty-one from among the heathen, had come to the settlement. Sixteen persons had departed this life. No one was lost at sea ; but Jonas, a lively, sweet-tempered child, about three years old, lost its life under a great floe of ice, driven on shore, behind whieh some Greenlanders had seated themselves to bask in tlie sun. They had all lefl the ice, and the mother was gone to fetch 1761.] FAVOUttABLE STATE OF THE MISSION. 175 her child a draught of water, when the heat of the sun broke off a large piece, which crushed him to death. He had previous!}^ given his parents and the missionaries much satisfaction by his singing. Meanwhile the missionaries found it more and more difficult to procure firing, as they were obliged to travel a distance of more than twenty-four miles, to collect wood on the outermost coasts of the sea. In the autumn this dangerous occupation had nearly cost two of our European Brethren, John Soerensen and Henry Huekel, their lives. For the first in bringing the boat to land in a high wind and heavy sea, cast the hook short of the rock, and tumbled headlong out of the boat, into the water several fathoms deep. The other in his hurry to help him out likewise slid down the slippery rock into the sea. However the last gained the rock once more, and the former seizing the keel of the boat underneath, raised himself up, and was drawn into it by a Greenland woman. They were obliged to continue all night in their wet clothes> without fire, and with nothing but a sail cloth to cover them, and therefore felt the more gratitude to God, who restored them in good health to their charge. Concerning the last congregation-day in this year, the missionaries write as follows : ". We heard an agreeable echo of oui* proceedings on this day in the company of assistants. Some of the unbaptized had received a par- ticular impression from the sermon, others from the accounts of missions, and others again from the prayer. A heathen who had moved hither, chiefly by way of a pleasant excursion for his wife and children, unwittingly entered the meeting of the baptized, and was so deeply affected by what he heard, that he now finally resolved to live with us. — Also some little girls, who were found sitting in a house with their books in their hands, and singing, affected some strar^ge Green- landers, who accidentally passed by, so forcibly, that two of them immediately came to a resolution to re- main here. In short, grace rules among us, with a soft !!:• VI. ■!■■ „''^-\\ '< ■ >2 •fi- , 1 .J r: i ■ .i ^h 'Cl'l r,0 LABOURS OF THfi BRETHRE27. [1761. I 17610 and gentle operation, though at the same time with demonstration oFthe spirit and of power." As to the spread of the Gospel about Lichtenfek, the Brethren could not at this time do much by express visits, but were obliged to rely chiefly ok the fortuitous visits of the heathen. For the natives on the east-side of the island had either come to the settlement, .or moved to a greater distance ; and the others who lived near it, had all turned back into their heathenish coursers, not- withstanding their continual pretences, that as soon as the Brethren settled in these parts, they would imme- diately be converted ; so that what our Saviour says of the kingdom of heaven : ** The flrst shall be last and the last first," was strictly applicable to their case. The labours of the Brethren among them were how- ever not altogether in vain. A spark had found its way into the heart of one here and there, which, weak as it was, shone in darkness, and gave rise to reflection. Thus the desire discovered by the above- mentioned Makkigak, on his death-bed, for fellowship with the Brethren, among whom he also expressed a wish to be buried, affected many heathens in In- nuksukt in such a manner as to induce them to make more frequent visits, and lend a more attentive ear to the Gospel, not without blessing. In a conversation held with some who had been very devout during the sermon, tears stood in their eyes, and one of them said : "It will not be in my power to stay away from you much longer, as I see plainly that it is not enough to hear of our Saviour now and then, but that it is better to hear of Him every day, and to see the happiness of his people." On the contrary, though others discovered strong symptoms of conviction, they brought forward various excuses for postponing the total surrender of their hearts. One had relations to visit. Another single man went away because, having lived a long time with Europeans, he was unwilling to accommodate himself to the Greenland diet. Another alleged the usual plea, that he did not understand the 1761.] VISITS or SOUTHLANDERS. 177 mode of catching seals here ; but that if he wereolder^ and his sons capable of providing their own mainte* nance, he would come. However, it was agreeable to him, that one of his daughters lived with us, and was baptized. ** But," said he, ** I myself am a poor man ; that I knOw, as Hannese, (Beck,) has often told me."* Once some Greenland sisters went to the factory to see some women, who did not go to the dance with the rest, and had often desired to be visited. An old sick woman, lamenting her fear of death, received for answer : " Thou mayst well be afraid, because thou knowest not what will become of thee aller death. We were afniid too, before we knew our Saviour. But since we have believed on him, and he has delivered us from the fear of death, and we know that after death we shall live for ever with Him, our dre^d is vanished." " Ah ! "said the woman, "ye are happy;" and desired them to telt her more good things. "On the 29th of June," writes a missionary, "we were visited by great numbers of Southlanders, but they are in general exceedingly savage, and flee every op- portunity of hearing the Gospel as they would fire. Their young people especially are abominably disso- lute. In the evening a number of them repaired to ihe factory, intending to have a singing and dancing match witli the heathen of those parts, who might be disposed to enter the lists against them. The rest pro- ceeded the next day to the north. " Another fiamily of Southlanders, relations of Augus- tus, came hither, under great apprehensions for their daughter, whom a man that has already two wives wishes to take by force, and threatens to kill the father if he withholds his consent. Our sisters concealed her from her pursuer, who came in quest of her during the night, but iK)t finding her with her parents, went off* again before morning. The girl would gladly stay with * Ajnrpunga. ♦« I am good for nothing," which is as ambiguous as the common saying : <* We are all poor sinners," and may as well import an excuse for being no better, as a penitent contession of sin. 'A ^ ■i V" 1 ..», •■ ^ ^1 ■ ' /» V- Tipeitsuksinnarauit. Umiello piginnaunegormyputy Illaetit Akuliugit iUmgnut. Auanga, Kauangalo, Pinga ussoraellugo. Open thine eyes and look round about How men came to thee ; And would gladly be in fellowship with thee, , Because thou art continually joyful. '. Some boats make ready And steer in fellowship their course to thee, From the north and from the south ; From the east, with songs of praise. r The Brethren having now got a more suitable dwell- ing-house, and the Grcenlanders a spacious church, the preaching of the Gospel, and all the other meeting» could be held without interruption, and it was per> ceptible that the Lord delighted to dwell in this place, to walk amongst his children, while assembled in it, and to let ,the light of h|s countenance shine upon them. In the meetings during the week, instead of a dis- course upon a text, a portion of the Evangelists, or of the il^pistles. was sometimes read and explained. The Qreenlanders were uncommonly attentive, and, besides the blessing of fellowship, ulso reaped this advantage, that .they oTlCn conferred with, each other, interrogated the missionaries on a .variety of subjects, and begged 176K3 SEVERE WEATHER. I8i for information on snch points as they had not rightly apprehended. *< On Easter Monday," says the diary, ** \te held a love-fieast of angmarset with our people. It happened that whilst we were reading the events commemo- rated in this season, we came to ouii Saviour's appear* ance at the sea of Tiberias, where he made a meal of of fishes with his disciples, and examined Peter con- cerning his love. It made no small impression upon the Greenlanders. ' ** In the meeting of the baptized,' the Litany was read through, and an explanation given of each single petition, and of the unknown words used in expressing it. Their hearts and ears were all open. "On those occasions, when accounts from other missions were read, our Brethren and sisters were filled with joy at the relation of the grace which prevailed among the negroes in the West India islands, and the Indians in North and South America. They all staid at home in order to miss. nothing." - As to the unbaptized and catechu^mens, a missionary uses the expression, ** Some are as if they were already baptized.*' One of them was once found sitting in his kajak, in a small creek, and weeping. A Greenland Brother asking him what was the matter, he replied: " Alas ! what a wretched man am I, when I consider, what our teachers tell us of our Saviour, and' the hap- piness of those who know him ; and that my heart should be empty yet !" The faithful shepherd soon took compassion on this old man ; as he was soon after made partaker of Holy Baptism." The weather was this year unusually severe, as it continued to freeze keenly till the latter end of May, and many of the natives were reduced to great distress. In the south particularly, the scarcity was so great that many died with hunger, the country being quite blocked up with ice, and at the same time covered with a deep snow. As soon as the water cleared, some heatheii proceeded to sail out of Fisher's-inlet, to a merriment, but were overtaken by a sudden gust of bad weathcj;, N a i %•■-. .,,V". 'I .i";'.':'!! 1S2 POV£RTT OF THE NATIVES* [1761. which gave them gi'eat difficulty to make the shore. As they had taken no tent with them, they w^re obliged to spend two days and a night in the most rigorous weather, with only the heavens for their covering. Some got so 8ti£fened and benumbed, that they were With diffi- culty recovered by the usual process of beating and dragging them about. A baptized woman to whom they related their distresses, used the opportunity to give them some information concerning the happiness of believers who love our Saviour. ■ In Lichtef^lSt in the beginning of the year, they met with such success in providing necessaries, that some- times in calnii weather ten seals were caught in a day. But the cold and ice increasing towards spring, they also were reduced to great straits. " Ailer the evening meeting," writes a missionary, **I passed through the great house, and saw what the Greenland- ers Were eating for supper. The poverty of some of them pained me to the heart. Two widows and their children were feeding on a piece of sea-weed, and yet did not utter a single complaint. Indeed, we ascertained that at the time they had nothing to subsist upon, but what muscles and weed they could gather at low water. When a man happened to catch a seal, all in the house shared in his success. But when it was divided into above seventy parts, the portions were but very small, especially since at this season only young seals are to be caught. The next day we divided some angmarset among them, which we had collected in summer. Being destitute of a proper repository, we could not store up many of these capelins, and the Greenlandershad often great quantities f 'hem spoiled by the rain, having no store-house like . *, at New Hermhut" On the other hand, in summer aiid autumn the exertions of the Greenlanders were richly blessed, so that the merchant had enough to do during the winter, to fetch the blubber which he bought of them, and to barrel it up. He declared his satisfaction, that since the Brethren settled here, he got as large a quantity from our people, as formerly from the whole district. i7<^ia DIARY OP MAT* 189 On the ISth of November there wad an eclipse of the moont which w2s total at about half past seven o'clock in the morning. In the Copenhagen almanack, no no- tice was taken of it, but in that of Berlin, it was men- tioned as invisible, at haU-past twelve in the afternoon. It therefore shows the distance at once, between the meridian of Lichterifels, and that of Berlin. Towards the end of the year an did Greenland^r, afflicted with the gout, was inclined through excess of pain to cut open his feet in order to obtain relief. His wife came to us, and bagged for some medicine. A few drops wer^ sent him in a little brandy, which soon relieved him from his p?in and s^ellit|g. It appears in ffeneral that the least change of diet is capable of af- fording relief to a Greerilander in siekness. 176i2. — In the spring of this year Matthew Stach went with some Greemanders to New. Hermhut, in ord^r to fetch some building materials and tools from thence, and called upon the heathen by the way, with s view to refresh their meiitories concerning divine things. This was also done on otheir dccasiohs. Besides some of them were continually coming to visit the Bre- thren, showed greiit attention during the preaching of the Gospel, and even gave them to understand that they intended to join the believers ; but at the same time pleaded a number of frivolous pretences in excuse for deUying the execution of their plans. : « Our people,*' says the diary under May 5th, " dili- gently visited the heathen in these parts, and at their request frequently proclaimed the Gospel, as it appears^ not without fruit ; for yesterday, a family of five, and to»day another of four persons, came to stay. Some days ago, after agreiit dance, a man hitherto exceedingly addicted to vanity, moved hither from the factory, and said. that he would now renounce all sensual pleasures, and believe on Jesus* He begged us to admit him, though he was a most depraved creature. Twelve persons beloncr to his family, which has relations living here. One of them is a married woman, who, four years ago, when single, was the first-fruits of this Am 1 ' 1 1 '0 ..» ilJ i MK #'*:^^;:-.,| 284 DIARY OP JimiC. [17Ci2. I 1702-] ^eigbt)Ourhood, but aflei^ some time withdrew again. We were glad of the opportunity offered, to direct this poor straying sheep into the fold of Jesuis I" One great cause why depravity gained ground among the heathen near the settlement, in spite of the efforts of the missionaries, was the mimber of South. landers who, on their route to the north, took up their abode amooffst them. Many visited the mission, but few seemed to cterive any benefit from what they heard. <* On the ^th of June," (we quote from the diary,) *< we had so many visits from the Southlanders, that our chapel and rooms were never empty the whole day. We endeavoured, both in the meetings, and in con- versation, to recommend to them, in Uie most loving manner, the mode of salvation through Christ, but their hearts were like rocks, and they had their usual excuses always at hand. Our Greenlanders tried to gain over their relations, but to no purpose. When, after the painful prospect of such a barren field, we turn our eyes to the aelightful little garden which the Lord has planted here^ our hearts swell with shame and thankfulness. « On the S9th, most of the southlanders left us. One boy, however, remained, and on the dOth, another single man o^red himself for a member of our community. ' *< On the 6th of July, another horde of Southlanders who had arrived at the factory, visited us. One oH them recommended his brother to our care, who wished to remain here. Being asked why he would not stay himself, he replied: * I have bought a great deal of powder and snot, which I must first spend in the south, in shooting rein-deer, for there are many there.' Another wished to eat his fill of bear's flesh ; a third wanted to buy a new boat ; and all wished to believe, only not at present. Thus the saying of Christ is ve- rified : * One buys a piece of ground, his neighbour a yoke of oxen, another marries a wife, and all neg- lect the season of grace.* "On the 8th, they brought a person hither, ill of the pleurisy. We gave him what medicine we had, and It had the desired eifect. The patient's three 17()S-] SOUTH LANDERS FROM THE FACTORY. 185 wives also came witli their little children, and his fa- ther, who is an angekok, seemed very thankful for our services. We recommended to them the physician of souls, but apparently to little purpose. If we could come to the south, they said that they would be converted. The Southlanders have brought along with them an infectious distemper, which begins to prevail amongst our people." ** On the idth and 14th, we were again visited by the Southlanders. By having associated with the Europeans, they were, on their return, much more polished than before, but had no inclination to hear any thing of their Redeemer. Two of them, however, attended to the account given them of the incarnation, death, and resurrection of our Saviour. They also came to the meeting, and resolved to dwell in the neighbomhood. ** Sept. 8th, many of our Greenlaiiders came home to repair their winter houses. Two families had, a short time before, rebuilt the old ruinous house, called Akonamiok, just opposiste to Lichtenfels, in order to winter there ; and tnough it was evident at first, that they had no inclination for any thing good, yet at last some of them were gained. Two families, which came hither in spring from the factory, built near the Southlanders, who are afraid of living with us, lest some of their people might believe, and be baptized. Afler some weeks, we were informed of another reason. An angekok told our Nicholas that a report prevailed all over the south, that we Europeajis, by our prayers, brought about the death of all those who once joined us, and aflerwards went away; and that he himself knew many instances of it. Nicholas answered, that we did not pray for the death, but for the life and sal- vation of the Greenlanders. «( November 14th, many Southlanders were here from the factory. They did not attend the sermon ; but one of our Greenland assistants held them a discourse in his own house, which seemed to make some impres- sion. The merchant complains of the Hcentiousness of these people. An angekok has so infatuated them with his legerdemain tricks, that at present nothing is ta %-mt ),.■>■ ft 'kf "I. It* V M mi K" -M 'Jv' 'I- H 1- /Mh' 186 TRICKS OF AN ANOEKOK; [176S. I ]762.1 be done with them. However, during one of his pretend- ed trips to heaven or hell, he was so sadly scared by the report of a gun, as to be almost unable to proceed. It seems, upon the whole, as if Satan had sent the most indefatigable of his servants into these parts. They seem never to be tired, even after repeated nights of gormandizing, dancing, juggling, and other disso- lute practices ; so that even such heathen as before had some sense of decency, are now carried away by the violence of the torrent. They, however, make no impression on our baptized, who seem only to hianifest the greater gratitude for their deliverance from the power of darSnesff; neither could we trace any marks of the contagion having spread as far as our settlement! for even the children, when a company of dancers are passing by, shun their sight, and seem as much frightened at their cries, as if enemjes ^ere on their niarch." I Many of the untutored natives made a curious mis- take concerning the word God. When the Danish name Giftf was used, they understood the same word inGreen- landic, which signifies riverst and wondered that the Brethren insisted so much upon the existence of rivers, which no one ever doubted. Owing to this acceptation of the word, a savage was quite indignant at being asked by one of the baptized, whether he believed in God, and replied : ** Wh^ should I not believe in that ? I have heard his voice ;** meaning the rushing sound of a torrent. While a missionary ^as once letting out the sheep early in the morning, he happened to hear extraordi- narily sweet singing in a tent, and found that the head of the family was performing bis morning devotions with his people. " He beckoned for us to come," writes the missionary, ** and we stood still, listening to this sweet melody, with hearts exceedingly moved» and with tears^ In our eyes. What a chanee, thought I, has been wrought here ! These people were but two years ago savage heathen, and now they are singing of their own accord, so sweetly to theLamb once slain."— «* We know not how learned t we any i can play the art i the Gre< our part, to sing o is advanc ened. f Those wl line, whii and thus women d can read obliged f at sea, ar With were not charge, dous visi who are ij meeting i can we c( from abo> Howev appears t " On c tion was chization of all hea si^e con< Ofives. their tear Concer aries and that the i chimney tar the for which 1762.] EMPLOYMENT OP THE MISSIONARIES. 187 not how our baptized in this place have so speedily learned tosing $ tor none of us causing well; neither have we any instruments, except an old flute, which nobody can play upon, except some Greenlanders who learned the art in New HermhuU It is a great blessing, that the Greenlanders, without any urgent exhortation on our part, make it their study to apprehend, and to learn to sing our best hymns, whereby their growth in grace is advanced, and their intellectual faculties stren^h- ened. In the evening many come to learn to sing. Those who cannot read, sit in a row ; each retains a line, which they again learn at home from each other, and thus quickly get several verses by rote. The single women do not require this method, as most of them can read. They generally excel the men, who are obliged from their youth to Spend almost every day at sea, and have not so much time for practice." With the children it appears that the missionaries were not so well satisfied, as with their up-grown charge. " We sincerely long," they write, " for a gnU cious visitation of our Saviour among our young fcHks, who are pretty numerous. We every day keep a separate meeting for them, which they attend faithfully ; neither can we complain of any irregularities, but still the fire from above is not as yet kindled in their hearts." However, from several passages in thr! diary, it appears that their anxiety was in the sequel relieved. ** On one occasion," they write, *' a particular emo- tion was perceptible among the children, at their cate- chization :" and again, ** There was a general melting of all hearts, when the children were reading that pas- sage concerning our Saviour's agonies on the mount of Olives. Both teachers and scholars gave free vent to their tears." Concerning the external employments of the mission* aries and Greenlanders, it is mentioned in the diary; that the former had to finish their house, to rebuild at chimney thrown doWn by the frost, to calk the roof, to tar the walls, and to finish the floor of the chapel^ for which they had procured four dozen boards from II ■ r .!.>» . > '52 •■I ::i-: 188 .^.'1!^ NUMEROUS DANCSnS. .O.ni lm'^. Oodhaab. They also built a turret for a bell, brought from Copenhiupen, repaired their old boat, dug a well, raised a marshy spot, laid it out for a garden, and enlarged the wall round their house. Another labour was to seek for turf on the island, and drifl-wood in the sea. In these employments they were much retarded in the middle of summer by snow and ice, and were exposed by thick fogs to many dangers, not to mention that both fuel and food were scarcer in Fisker*s Iniet, than in BaaPs liiver, rein-deer and eyder-fowl being seU dom found there. However, they began to catch some large cod, and the Greenlanders found a place abound- ing with, halibuts. The latter met with greater dif- ficulties this year in collecting provisions, than the last, being unable to sell above one half of the blubber to the merchant, yet it amounted to more than he could collect from all this neighbourhood besides, though comparatively populous. Numerous dangers of various kinds befel them. We shall, insert a specimen. / •• While some women were engaged in seeking for eggs, they saw something white lying in the sea, and paddled up to it, supposing that it was a piece of ice, which would serve the purpose of cooling their water. Upon approaching nearer, they discovered thatit wasan enorm- ous white bear. Some that had never seen a bear before, were frightened, and screamed out ; but the beast lay still, not attempting to swim afler them. They brouglit some Greenlanders with guns,, but he was gone. ;i^. *.* A short time afler the widows moved into their house, one of them was roused in the night by the cracking of the roof. She awoke the rest, and bade them lie close to the wall. They had scarcely done so, before the roof burst in the middle, shattered most of their furniture, and only lefl a passage near the wall, on . which the cross beams rested. 1 hrough this opentiie ,they all crept out unhurt. ** Tne only : fatal accident befel Ludwig, a boy who lost his* life ia the waves. He was baptized this year, was; diligent in learning to. read, and was taught ta 17^2.] DEATH OF ftCJSANKA* 189 sing by a Greenland assistant, who declared that he of-' ten spoke feelingly of the state of his heart. His be- haviour was in general exemplary, but he was inclined to be headstrong, as appears from his last act, he hav- ing gone after his father against his mother's will. Ob- .itinacy and disobedience are prevailing vices among the Greenland youth. They proceed from too great indulgence on the part of their parents, and we accord- ingly improved the opportunity afforded by the melan- choly fate of this boy, to urge the propriety of greater stri<;tnes8, which would prevent many perplexities and troubles." i Besides Ludwig, six souls passed into eternity* The comforts of a believing hope to a dying Christian were most forcibly exemplified on the death-bed of Su- sanna. She was born at Innuksuk, a place six miles distant from Lichten/els, and after the death of her pa- rents, was cared for by one of her relations, with whom she joined the Brethren in the year 17()0. The doct- rine of redemption quickly found its way to her heart, as she was endowed with a calm sensibility, and profited by every opportunity. Her character was remarkably sincere ; she concealed nothing, but sought advice about every thing which appeared suspicious to her, and acted accordingly. She was so patient, that even when with- out victuals for whole days, none heard her uttering a complaint. Owing to her great willingness in carrying burdens during the rein deer hunt, she had over-strain- ed herself, and brought on a spitting of blood, which continued during her stay in Lichtenfels, and caused her death. About a month before her end, when her disease returned with increasing violence, she per- ceivetl that her dissolution was at hand, and frequently said to her sisters : * Oh ! how glad am I that I have a Saviour ! If I could not rely upon him here, I should be afraid of death !' During the burial of a child,, she looked through the window at the funeral pro- cession, and afterwards exclaimed : * Oh that was fine ! how sweetly you sung ! You will sing at my fu- neral in the same manner/ Being asked a few days ■ 1U-...I, . -fV't:.', 1 1| 190 EXCHANGE OF VlftlTR. [17^»5. before her departure, whether she should not like to stay a little longer on earth, she answered : * Do not say any more about that, willingly let roe go to our Sa^ viour/ And when the other replied to her injunction ; < Go then in peace :' she added : * Oh, how I long tor Jesus ! Oh, mi^hthe only come quickly and take me to htmseU'.' Dunng the night preceding her death, she requested those who waited upon her to sine several verses, and accompanied them with a feeble voice, expressing by the sweetness of her aspect, those lively feefinga of joyful expectation, which her iaitering organs refused to utter. Just at day-break she raised herself up, but immediately after sunk into the arms of her attendants, and expired. She was twent;^.fbur years of age, ** and," says the missionary, ** is the first of the flowers planted and blown in this little garden. The Lord has now transplanted it into his celestial paradise, where it shall flounsh in immortal beauty, and be one reward for the travail of his soul. To Him be glor^ for ever. Amen" Meanwhile in the congregation at New Hermhutt the Brethren and the natives, during the winter, ex- changed frequent visits. Of one of their excursions the missionaries write as follows : ** Afler we had visited several houses, and conversed with their inhabitants, we waited upon an old, friendly Southlander, called Kiikiliangoak. In his dwelling we met with some of our baptized, who had been witli the factor's clerk to fetch blubber. They were followed by a company of heathen, who came hither with a great shout, betokening a challenge to a dancing- match. But seeing us standing, and hearing no echo to their cry, they withdrew to another place. Most of the ^oung people ran afler them, but the old folks staid at home ; and I kept a discourse to them. April 1st, we visited some other bouses, and their in- mates received us kindly. But being informed that our assistant Daniel would keep them a discourse, an old woman began to make such a noise, that we were forced to put her out of doors. At our return 176«.] VISION Of CHRIST. 191 to our lodgings, many people followed us. We read to them the third chapter of the Acts of the Apostles, and I added a word of exhortation. The old people listened quietly, and declared their satisiiiction, yet they (lid not seem much affected ; but some of the younger ones betrayed evident emotion, and told our Oreen- Isnders, that they should be glad to live with us. In the evening I desired Daniel to keep a discourse. April €d, the strong north wind and severe cold ceased, and we all set out on our return, taking along with us a widow, her son and two daughters. Old Uikiek, who was induced last Christmas, by the firmness of his daughter, to stay with us, followed us with his boat and tent, although his two brothers had once more attempted to persuade him and his daughter to go with them to the north. ** By means of these visits, and those of the baptized Greenlanders, many heathen were much moved : but their propensity to a roving Hfe, their attachment to their relations, and their hankering after their national amusements, withheld most from surrendering them- selves to our Saviour at present. One of the above- mentioned Uikiek's brothers told our Greenlanders, that he had had a vision of Christ on the Cross, which made him very uneasy ; but still he could not withstaud his inclination to visit his elder brother in the north. His other brother was present, when Uikiek was received among the candidates for baptism ^ and it was observed that the tears stood in his eyes *, but having been challenged to a singing combat shortly be- fore, and lost the day, he had no time to attend to his conversion, being too desirous to wipe off the dis. grace and ousting his antagonist. " A man in Kookoemen^ who always showed the Greenlanders much kindness, when they were there on business, fancied that he had no occasion to come to us at present, because our Greenlanders, who fre- quently lodged in his house, instructed him sufficiently : he declared it to be his opinion, that should he die without faith or baptism, his soul would go to the dark ' r 'IIIN Iwm 1 111 ^'r in 1 1 i'li nil ; ■<^*.:*'l • ■r'-M _ « '*' ■ V > ■ 1 ^1 \ ■ '/.ij'*".V /Iffl •^'iv'JilJ ^ Wwf I 'W ' i r 'li^ , 1 1 ' i ■ M . ' ' ■■.■'• ii '■ . : 'Jl ' 1. ■'--_' ' • B ■ ■^•M ■ 'm 'IB ' • lE 1 ^ 1; ■ ■ M V ' 'ill ' ) \ : - jKH '■■}^t\ m INEFFICACY OP MORAL SUASION. [1762. place ; but he hoped that God would spare his life till he attained to conversion. Similar to this were the sentiments and declarations of numbers." ' Many Southlanders also passed by on their route north- ward, but very few pitched their tents at New Herm- hut, and fewer still attended the preaching of the word, fearing to be disturbed in their heathenish course. We here take an opportunity to observe that the minds of heathens seldom require much preparation for the re- ception of the Gospel. Comparatively few savages seem entirely destitute of some obscure notion of the existence of a God, of their own corrupt state, and of the necessity of conversion. They are generally in some measure convinced, that a change must be wrought in them, in order to secure permanent sa- tisfaction and happiness. A dissertation on God and his attributes seldom seems to strike them as a novelty. If you inculcate a chain of moral precepts, they either listen with silent indifference, attempt to illustrate the subject by adverting to their own supposed good quali- ties, or ward off censure, by canvassing the conduct of others. Neither, is any kind of argumentation calculated to impress their minds. But speak to them of salvation through the meritorious death of Jesus, and you touch a string which vibrates in unison witli their feelings, you press the spring which unlocks all the susceptibilities ol" their minds ; they seem to exult with the rapturous surprize of one who has made an important discovery ; or whose eyes have been restored to sight ; and embrace the idea with the eager fond- ness of such as have found what can alone replenish the void which they felt in their souls. The young especially, whose minds are not rendered callous and obdurate, frequently attend to the doctrine of reconci- liation, with an emotion which presses tears from their eyes ; while the old, in whose hearts Satan has fortified his throne with the strong bulwarks of pre- judice, are frequently only chagrined or enraged, and fly from the sound of the Gospel like stricken deer. Some, however, cannot escape the arrows of convic- 7 176«.] THB CONOREOATION AUGMENTED. 193 tion till, after lon^ wanderinffs, they finally have re- course to the Physician of souls. Thus, out of the last numerous company of South- landers, who passed by the settlement, (there were nearly thirty boats full,^ only two single women could fesolve to remain with the Brethren. On the other hand, a man joined the Brethren at New Hermhutt with a family consisting of eleven per- sons, chiefly adults, who had lived near Lichtertfels, and received instruction there ; and before the end of the winter, the greater part of the inhabitants of the neigh- bouring island Kartak, who had often heard the Gospel with blessing, were compelled by the ice to desert their habitations, and twenty-one of them took refuge in New HermhuL Amone the former, were some who appeared to turn a deot ear to the instructions of the missionary. One old man gave his son a severe reproof, who had thrown away his angoak, with these words : ^< This angoak * is now of no more use to me ; here i will cleave to our Saviour, and put my trust in him." The wife of another bore him a child, which he wished to have baptized. On its being intimated to him, that the Brethren baptized no children whose parents had not engaged to have them brought up in the Christian religion, he came with his wife, sister, and brother-in- law, all of whom affirmed, that it had been their inten- tion from the first to stay in the settlement, and that they should consider the baptism of the child as a token that they were not slighted. Upon this assurance, their request was granted. Before the end of the year, the father also was baptized, and most of his relations numbered among the candidates for baptism. Thus, forty persons from among the savages were admitted as inhabitants of the settlement, and forty-four souls joined to the congregation by holy baptism, among whom were nine boys and six girls. Eignteen persons I ':'' -'J k^- I, • , ». i^ '!(? ::' •' :■'•!«; ] ««, ■<' '■ H .'■'UL * An angoak i$ a sort of amulet. It was in this instance ihe dried embryo of a dog, which is supposed by the Greenlanders to preserve inexperienced children from misfortune. VOL. II. 19^* ARllIVAt O? WEW AMlW'ANTSif^T Cl7««. wer^ admitted to the holy 'commumofij and three couples were married. Of the occurrences at Licktenfils during this year, ive shall say no more, having already ^Ven a'n aeCotint of them. Yet Crantz, as an eye-witness, still obsi^rves, that when he attended the catechizations, and the preparation for baptism or the Lord's Jsuppiferj' not only the ainswers and ingenuous declaratidns of the Ghreenlanders, but the grace which prevailed, and the emotion which caused tears to roll down their swarthy faces, affected and rejoiced him, so as to iniake hi^ heart leap, and his eyes overflow. The peace of God which he felt during the administration of baptism and the holy communion, was beyond description ; and the expression of joy which animated the broad, honest features of tne natives, such as no subsequent scenes could obliterate from his memory. . y» > ,.: Of the Greenlanders at New Hermhut, it may s^ill be mentioned, that during their dispersion in the sum- mer, both young and old were preserved from spiritual and bodily harm, though many had been overset or drawn under water by seals. In the beginning of the year they had good sue* cess, caught a great many sea-fowl and seals, and in April, a sea-cow, which is seldom seen in these parts^ The capelin-flshery was much spoiled by the rainy wea- ther, which also hindered the missionaries in their employments ; and as the month of August had nearly passed witiiout any news of a ship, they became rather uneasy. However it arrived safe on the @6tb of August. In it came two new assistants, Henry Meyer and John Boehnisch. By the former, Peter Haven's place in Lichtenfels was supplied, and the latter staid in New Hermhut^ as Jens Haven returned to Europe with Crantz. * The Greenlanders had but indiflerent success in catching seals in the Sound, especially as an epidemic seized them, which hindered many from providing for themselves. During the continuance of the disease, they were visited by the missionary, who gives the following account of it. 17fl?-] 8ICKNB8S PREVAILS. 19^ " Sept 25th, we received the painful news by those who c«ine to the Lord's supper from the Sound, that sel^eral of our people, and especially two men, weve dangerously ill. We directly sent them some medi* cine, but it had no effect. On the S8th, the strong wind having abated, I went to the Sound to visit Mie sick, who longed for my presence. One of the above- mentioned brethren I found better, and in a happy state of mind ; but the other, whose name was Simon, was dead, and his body hadbeeu carried over for inter- ment. Afler I had hastily visited the rest of the sick, 1 followed the corpse, and afler a discourse upon com- ifiunion with our Saviour, 1 buned it. I would imme- diately afler the transaction, have recrossed the Sound, but was detained by stormy weather till the 1st of October, when the corpse of fieata, Daniel's daughter, was brought over. The sickness prevailed more and more, and those who were confined begged to be visited, especially Kiutikak, who has no feet, and cam^ to us last winter. He had been lately received among the candidates for baptism. Though my three fellow* labourers had gone out four days before, and there was no one in the settlement to care for the sicl( there, I went directly to the Sound, and first visited the lame Kiutikak. He repeated his earnest desire for baptism ; and as I found no reason to defer it any lon- ger, 1 baptized him by the name of Michael. It seemed as ifhis joyfulness of soul, during the solemn transaction, had a happy influence even upon his health; for from that moment he began to recover. In the evening I kept a meeting in a tent, to as many ati could find room in it. On the 2d, I received information, that our Brethern, afier having escaped many dangers, had arrived safe with two laden boats from Okeitsnt. This put it in my power to stay here and nurse the sick. On the dd, I was called to Matthew, but he had lost his speech, and could only answer me by his grateful looks. After a few words of encouragement, I commended him by the last blessing of the church to the arms of his Redeemer. I then visited the rest of the sick, let o 3 mm iiK> ACCOUNT OF DANIBL. [176 « some of them blood, who soon recovered ; and hearing on the morning of the 24th, that Matthew had departed this life» I took the corpse ah>ng with the widow and her two children, in my boat to New Hermtiut**\ Most of the sick recovered ; but the constitutions of some were so broken by their malady, that they died either at the end of this year, or the beginning 'of the next. We have only room to relate a few particulars concerning the lite of the last. This was the invaluable Daniel, that blessed preacher among his nation. He was bom at Tunnubarbik in the South, about the time that the late Rev. Mr. Egede arrived in Greenland. His father, a wise and rich Greenlandier, had five sons and three daughters, and, like most of the Southlanders, led a roving life, residing one year in the South, another at Kangek, a third Bt Dtsko, and so on. On one of his expeditions he was visited, while in Kanfek, by the Rev. Mr. Dracha^t. On receiving the first tiding of redemption through the blood of Jesus, Agusina, which was Daniel's name before his baptism, received such an impression, that he determined to become our Saviour's property, and take up his abode with the believers. However, he could ndt at this time leave his father, but was obliged to follow the latter on his peregrinatioas. In the autumn of ly^f) they returned to Kangek, and as he was then the eldest son, and had a family, he asserted his independence, parted from his father, brothers, and sisters, and removed to the colony at Godhaab, He liow became a genuine believer in Jesus, and was bap- tized by Mr. Drachart in New Hermhut January 25tn, 1747. Hitherto Daniel had constantly resided at God- haab, but as his father's brother lived with the Brethren, and was baptized, he had a desire to come to Neo) Hermhut. The Brethren denied his request several times ; but as he insisted upon a removal, he begged permission of the Danish missionary, who granted it without reluctance, joining him in the prayer, that he might in New Hermhut hecomt more thoroughly {^rounded in the faith. I . 176«.] ACCOU!^ OF DANIEL. 197 Soon after his arrival in the settlement, he was ad« mitted to the Holy Communion; and after his wife had been made a partdker of this grace, the blessing of the church was imparted to them for their marriage. In tlie year 17^1 » he fell into temptation, but the prayers of the Brethren that his faith might not fail, nor the enemy have reason to rejoice in the downfal of his simple soul, prevailed ; for the transitory error seemed in tne sequel to render him more assiduously vigilant. As soon as he partook of the iirst time of the Lord's supper, a desire sprung up within him to publish the glad tidings of salvation ; ana he was accordingly soon after received into the company of assistants. Out of the abundance of his heart, his mouth overflowed early and late. The heathen who heard him gladly, always manifested a particular esteem for him, and an extra- ordinary veneration for his words. He would of his own accord, address quite ignorant savages, and in the course of a friendly conversation, endeavour to clear up their innate ideas of God, and the immortality of the soul, in order to impress them with a sense of their corrupt state and the necessity of redemption ; and then with a burning heart, and frequently with tears in his eyes, he would tell them of the sacrifice and the love of Jesus. While absent from the settle- ment, if he heard that a company of Southlanders had arrived there, he would hasten home, show them every part of the place, and explain to them the design of so many of their countr^rmen living together. If they shunned the public meetings, he visited them in their tents, and imperceptibly let fall something tending to their everlasting peace. When, during the fishing season, he was obliged to lodge for a night in a strange place, he was generally requested to keep a discourse. ** On these occasions," say the agents of the factory, who used to call him bv way of distinction the Man of God, « he would take on his cap, fold his hands, siuff a few verses, pray, and discourse to the heathen without any concern at the presence of Europeans, and all this in such a manner, that the poor natives o 3 ilii r-: VPi^-f r ■■■' H:f ii 1 \]''^H ■:"'rt U-- ■'..■■■ 198 ACCOUNT OF OANIEL« [I762. could not refrain from tears, nor from speaking about what they had heard till a late hour of the night." In winter, when the time hung heavy on his •hands, he would place himself in his kajak, and go a visiting in places inaccessible to the missionaries, or wher^ he knew that an awakened soul was to be found. His testimony to the heathen was on all occasions lively, intrepid, and engaging ; and his public discourses to his brethren, simple, mectionnie, and impressive. He generally spoke by similitudes, and had an agreeable method of applying them to the heart. In the year 17^3, he requested the permission of the missionaries to take a journey to the north, in order to show his father andf brothers the way of life. The Brethren endeavoured to dissuade him from it, in consideration of the many dangers that were to be apprehended both for his soul and body ; but as .he insisted upon going, they at last dismissed him, ' in company of another national assistant, with the blessing of the congregation. In eight weeks they both re- turned safe and happy, having suffered much reproach and ridicule, but at the same time proclaimed the Gospel to several hundred Greenlanders. Their mis- sion was not without fruit ; for all the relations of our late brother, excepting his father and brother, who were already dead, followed him, were baptized, pros- pered in the congregation, and have now, we nave reason to believe, by a happy departure, entered the realms of everlasting joy. Till a very short time before his death, the mission- aries reaped, nothing but pleasure from this dear man ; but to use their own expressions, <* A trivial circum- stance opened the door for self-complacency, at the great ana excellent gifls which Daniel really possessed, though he himself appeared unconscious of them before." Since then an alteration was observed, which induced some degree of alarm on his account. In short, he was perceived to be in a very critical situation. His gifb were diminished, and his discourses were not attended with their usual power. fi i*u; t» v- 176«.] ACCOUNT OF DANIEL. 199 While be remained in this state, his only surviving di|ughter Beata, as has been noticed above, died of the epidemical disorder in the Sound, at the age of fifteen, He bemoaned her loss most bitterly, partly because she was a very promising child, and partly because, as he had never learned to read, she frequently read the word of God to him, which he knew now to make use of in conversation with his family, and in his discourses to the heathen. On account of his disturbed state of mind, he now absented himself from the Holy Com- munion. However soon after matters took a turn, he became convinced of his error, and in November, enjoyed as a comforted sinner, the body and blood of Jesus in the Sacrament, which proved an unspeakable confirmation of his faith. Directly after this celebration, he fell ill with stitches in his side. The Brethren im- mediately opened a vein, and gave him some medicine, but nothing would operate. When they visited him, they always found him in happy intercourse with the Friend or his soul. His only trouble seemed to be, that he had not been able to make an intended voyage to the South : «* for you know," said he, " with wlmt pleasure 1 led my countrymen to our Saviour, and saw them as happy, as he through mercy has made pie.** When he was visited on the 2d of December, he said with a remarkably cheerful look : *< Now it is confirmed to me, that I shall go to our Saviour, nor will my departure be long delayed, for the wedding garment which, I wait for, is ready. Oh, how well and happy am I ! But how shall I then be, when, like Thomas, I shall lay my hand in his side, and say : •* My Lord and my 6od !** " Oh, how will I thank him, that He has chosen me from among the heathen, has washed me in His blood, has given me His body to eat, and His blood to drink, and has kept me in fellowship with himself." On the morning of December 3d, he commended his two sons and their mother, to our care, on which occasion, say the missionaries, " he put on such an amiable expression of countenance, that his face seemed to us like that of an angel.** By degrees o 4 ' ''■', .1:* ■■"lit: 200 ACCOUNT OF OAHIEL. [176«. be lost his speech, and desired the blessing of the church for his departure. This was imparted by the missionaries with imposition of hands, and, a farewell kiss» accompanied by a strong perception of 6ur Sa- viour's presence, and a flood of tears from sJl who witnessed the affecting scene. Scarcely had the Bre- thren reached home, after performing this last duty to theit dying convert, when a messenger arrived to in- form them that he was just expiring. They therefore Imstened hack, and ushered the soul of this highly favoured witness of Jesus, into the presence of its Redeemer, by singine some verses expressive of the bliss of those who die in the Lord. His brothers, sisters, and other relations who were present, far from indulging io the frantic expressions of grief, usual on such occasions among the heathen Greenlanders, con- ducted themselves like children of God. They how- ever embalmed his memory with many tears, " atid so did we too," say the Brethren, " for we have lost in him an inestimable present from the Lord, a man whose heart was warm with love to God, an affectionate brother, a faithful assistant, an ornament of the con- gregation, and a man of God approved both to Chris- tians !" EDUCATION OF THE CHILDREN. 207 friendless widows are relieved, none are obliged to marry against their inclination, no wife is turned away, or hus- band permitted to marry more than one wife, and where all fatherless orphans are maintained and educated. So much is certain, that nothing would contribute to de- ter the heathen natives from coming to live in our settle- ments, more than an appearance of idleness or inactivity in their inhabitants, as among Greenlanders, dexterity in their arduous employments, is the highest virtue. Accordingly, our people, who from their regular habits and persevering industry, generally excel the other natives in hunting and fishing, are much esteemed by the latter. Whenever a family is left destitute by the decease of its head, or a widow with her children seeks refuge among the Brethren, an assembly of the most respectable and able men in the settlement is convened, in order to consult upon the most suitable measures for the relief of the sunerers. On these occasions some one commonly oflfers to receive or assist them. In case the children be very young, or not yet weaned, a family who have either few children, or none at all, generally adopt a boy or girl, as their own. The Brethren must afterwards assist these charitable people in providing cloathing for the children, and kajaks for the growing boys, lest for want of the necessary imple- ments, the latter should be rendered incapable of pro- viding for themselves, when they arrive at years of ma- turity. ''""' The missionaries must always in every thing regard- ing the education of children, keep a watchful eye upon their Greenlanders, who are exceedingly prone to neg- lect their infant charge. Prudence is also very necessary in the distribution of their bounty, that they may not bestow it on any but the deserving, or rouse the innate carelessness of a naturally improvident race, who might easily be led to imagine, that their baptism gave them a claim upon the charity of the Brethren. In New Hermhut especially, there are many who, on account of old age, sickness, or a neglected educa- tion, cannot provide for themselves, but must be '111! i i:;.^^ 1\ 4 y'i ■ . ! 908 GENEROSITY OF THE OREENLAND£RS. ■v" assisted by the rest. Others are bad economists ; and these are generally also deficient in genuine Christianity. Yet in general it is matter of wonder, that so many can support themselves and their families, and have such a surplus remaining, that the factors nowhere purchase such quantities of blubber as in our congre- gations, uver-burdened as they are with poor. Even m times of universal famine, our people have generally so much to spare, that they can relieve the wants of others, and even receive whole families into their huts. On an average, the inhabitants of New Hermhut have furnished yearly about one hundred and forty barrels of blubber, while the neighbouring heathen, fewer indeed in number, but who have a much less number to main- tain, could not produce more than half that quantity, though their residence so near the coast gave them a much better opportunity for collecting it. There is only one collection made in the Greenland congregation, namely that for oil. All who have caught seals voluntarily contribute every autumn, a suf- ficient quantity of blubber or train oil, to supply the lamps in their chapel. In this contribution, the gene- rosity of the Greenlanders is the more commendable, when contrasted with their natural covetousness. We ought also to acknowledge the liberality of many female house-keepers, who use the greatest frugality, that they may have the more to distribute among the sick and needy. Such charitable acts are generally evi- dent fruits of genuine conversion, as they are per- formed without ostentation, and the doctrine of good works is much seldomer dwelt upon than that of faith, in the discourses of the missionaries. Sometimes the charity exercised during the winter, remains undis- covered till the spring, when the poor inform the mis- sionaries how they have been supported. In general, the Brethren suffer the Greenlanders to follow their national pursuits, in as far as is consistent with their profession, without restraint, always ,endea- vouring to render the natives as serviceable as possible to the government to whom they belong, it is at the ACCOUNT OF THE MISSIONARIES. 209 Rame time highly needful to take care, lest the Green- landers should entertain the suspicion, that under colour of introducing Christianity, the missionaries seek to deprive them of their liberty ; for this idea would at once prevent them from attending to the preaching of the Gospel. Before we attempt giving an account of the eccle* siastical constitution of the Greenland congregations, it will be necessary to premise a few observations con- cerning the missionaries, and their employments and maintenance. In general, each settlement is superintended by a missionary and two deacons, who assist him both in his temporal and spiritual incumbencies. These three persons are married. Their wives not only manage their dojnestic concerns, but are also the principal labourers among their own sex, having, under the di- rection of the missionary, the special inspection of all the females, that all slander and jealousy, to which the Greenlanders are exceedingly prone, may be effec- tually prevented. Besides these, there are two un- married assistants, one of whom holds the office of catechist, keeps the boys' school, and has the particular inspection of the single men ; the other is called assistant to the mission, attends principally to its economical af}airs, and ought to understand something of masons', carpenters*, and smiths* work, for the ne- cessary buildings and repairs. He also assists the cate- chist, and makes it a point to inure the young men to habits of regularity and industry. This apparently large number of missionaries will cease to be matter of surprise, when it is recollected, that they have no salary, and except the provisions sent to them from Europe, must maintain themselves by hunting and fishing ; that they must keep their chapel, dwelling-house, and boats in repair, and during a short summer provide fire-wood for a long and dreary winter. It ought also to be observed, that fewer could scarcely do justice to the souls committed to their charge. In VOL. II. » M ■ jpHii >' i W^'^Mi^ 'i'< •1." Latrobe, of Fetter-lane, London, when they may icst assured thai it will be applied in the most advantageous manner, by that indefa* tigable benefactor to the heathen world. i DIFFERENT MEETINGS. 218 Iheir people, both in the country and at home, the education of the children, the domestic order in par> ticular families, and the general life and conversation of all the inhabitants of the settlement. In return, the Brethren give the needful exhortations and instructions, which the assistants communicate to the families in which they live. They are particularly useful to the missionaries, by giving them information concerning such new-comers as are not yet candidates for baptism, and concerning the visiting heathen, whom they are encouraged to address whenever they iind it practicable, on the way of salvation. Arrangements regarding the internal affairs of the congregation, are not discussed in the presence of the Greenland assistants, but in a con- ference of the missionaries themselves ; and are after- wards made known to the former. Other advantages, which result from the co-operation of these assistmits, have been noticed before. Out of their . number, servants, of both sexes are appointed, whose business it is to keep the chapel in proper order, to place the benches, trim the lamps, $nd fulfil all the duties of church-wardens. These services they perform without any remuneration, or precedence of rank. £very day in the week, at six o'-clock in the morning, a short meeting is kept, called the morning blessing, which all the baptized attend. At eight, there is a meeting for all the inhabitants of the settlement, in which a text of scripture is explained or applied. It is begun and concluded wit'i singing, and seldom lasts more than half an hour. After this the men follow their usual occupation on the sea. About nine, the children have a meeting for cate- chisation. From thence they proceed to school, the girls to a married missionary, and the boys to the catechist, whose school is also frequented by some young men, who either wish to improve in reading and writing, or to assist in teaching the younger children. In the evening, when the men are returned from the sea, there is another meeting, in which either a discourse upon the text for the day is delivered, or a few hymns are P 3 ) t k , I I «14 SINGING OP THE OREENLANDEUS. sung. After this meeting, the dommunictints remain in the chapel, and receive a short exhortation* On Sundays, the sermon, which is held either on the Gospel for the day, according to the usage of the' Lutherans, or on any other suitable text, is in the afternoon, and differs froni another hortatory discourse, only in being rather more systetnatic, and somewhat longer. The missionary deUvers it standing behind the table, as there is no pulpit, that all who on these occasions generally crowd the chapel and adjoining rooms, may ear distinctly^ ' It has been mentioned before, that the Greenlanders, especially the women and children, often sing hymns at their work, both in and out of doors. !^rmerly, those who had good voices, received instruction m singing ; but this is no longer necessary, as most of them sing well, know most common hymns by rote, or can learn them out of the hymn book. The s^me solemn harmony, so often admired by strangers in the singingwhich constitutes a principal partofthedevotional exercises of the Brethren, prevails also in our Greenland congregations. Indeed, many who have heard both, have declared, that in this respect, the Greenlanders excel the Europeans. The men have generally coarse voices, and therefore do not exert them, but the tones of the females are mellow and clear, and melt into such perfect harmony, that at a distance, their united per- formance sounds like the melody of one powerful voice.* Its only fault is its sinking, especially in long metre; but this is remedied by an instrumental accompaniment. Their musical band is very small, consisting only of two or three violins, a couple of flutes, and a few * From an interesting joui^nal of a visit to South i^frica, latelpr published by tlie Rev. C. J. Latrobe, whose reputation as a musician w well known, it appears that the same cause has produced the same effects upon the savage natives 6f one of the most southern, as well as one of the most oortbern extremities of the habitable globe. He describes the singing of the Hottentots as delightfully sweet and harmonious. ** Motmng,*' writes he, <* could be more easy than to form a chorus of the most delightful voices, in four parts, from among this smooth-throated nation." DISCOURSES AND CONVERSATIONS. ais guitars. Some of the Greenlanders have learnt to execute such tunes as they know pretty well on these instruments, in two parts; and might arrive con- siderable proficiency in music, if it were thought neces- sary, having much natural talent for the art. Several of them have also learnt to blow the trumpet and french-horn; but these instruments never accompany the singing of the congregation. They are used merely instead of the bell, to assemble the baptized or com- municants into the chapel. Of all public discourses, catechisations and conver- sations, tne living knowledge of Jesus Christ, as cru- cified for our sins, or implicit trust in his atonement, is the principal theme, and from this source every other truth is deduced. It is the chief concern of the missionaries to establish a real and dose communion between all the individuals of their flock, and their great but invisible Friend ; to teach them by prayer, and silent intercourse with him, to nourish the life of God in their souls, arid to preserve the lamp of faith from being extinguished. The method which the Brethren have adopted of conversing with the heathen natives, and of bringing them to the knowledge of the truth, has been sufficiently exemplified in the preceding narrative. In the practice of this method they li^ve been confirmed, not only by their own experience of many years, but also by the example and attestationa of their fellow-labourers among other heathen tribes. It has also been found to be the best, by the servants of God, who have laboured in the East and West Indies, among heathen whose stronger mental powers had supplied them with more refined and dangerous, arguments, to defend their systematic superstition against the inroads of the Gospel. Its efficacy has ia an especial manner, been confirmed by the late David firainard, missionary of a Presbyterian society ia Scotland, among the Indians in the provinces of Jersey and Pennsylvania. We are credibly informed* coft-- * See remarkable heathen conversions) in Fresenius's Paetoral Collections, 3(1 and 4th parts. P 4 ii:'>; I 1116 brainard'0 preaching. cerning that pious and indefatigable man, and it n also observable throughout the whole of his account, that as long as he continued the usual method of preaching, and endeavoured to convince tne Indians oy arguments, he could effect nothing ; but that as soon as he benefited by the example of his neighbours, of whose' success he was an eye-witness, and ventured, without any preface, to preach the Saviour and his love, to the benighted natives, such an extensive awakening ensued, that both he and all the ministers of his per- suasion who witnessed it, were astonished, and led to ascribe glorjr to God. We shall only auote two passages from his work, in confirmation of the above. *< August 3d, IJ^t 1 preached on Rev. xxii. 17^ * Whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.' Although I could not treat tbst subject, in the method otherwise usual, vet the Ix)rd gave me boldness and freedom, to set before iny hearers iri a somewhat peculiar manner, our dear Redeemer, as a most benign and compassionate Saviour, so that a real awakening was plainly perceived." In his general remarks on this work of grac(;, p. 300, he says, '* But this great awakening, and surprising solicitude of the souls, was never occasioned by an v terrifying sermons ; but, what is exceedingly remarkable, whenever in my discourses 1 dwelt strongly on the moving scene of a Saviour dying on the cross, on his meek behaviour under suHering, on the unspeakable riches of his sal- vation, or on the kindness with which unmerited grace is freely offered to all needy, sorrowing, and distressed souls, there appeared immediately an extraordinary awakening amonest the hearers. * The Greenlauders in general possess very little of that purely theoretical knowledge of Christian doctrine, which might fill their hearts with vanity, to the seclu- sion of genuine piety; or suggest speculative ideas more curious than beneficial. Indeed they have little * The Translator, not having Mr. Braioard'b book at hand, was obliged to render these quotations into English, fVom the Germani of msenius. METHOD OF BAPTISM. ^i7 I ''■■ Opportunity for acquiring it, as the missionaries give tnem little more than a simple delineation of the leading features of Christianity, well knowing that what puzzles the understanding, is b^ no means adapted to reach the heart. They are not forced to learn very much by rote, as their reluctance to the task might in many produce fretful stupidity, aversion to the truth, or secret murmuring. Ambitious emulation is never employed as a spur to learning ; and the Genn^in pro- verb, < the more learned, the more esteemed,' ddes not hold among them, with regard to spiritual science. Nevertheless, most of tlie baptized are masters of some share of doctrinal knowledge. In this respect there is a striking difference between those who have joined the Brethren at an advanced age, and those who were baptized as children, or in their youth kept at school, and trained up by the missionaries : for all the children in the settlement have a daily catechisation, which the adults have no leisure to attend, can in general read well, and consequently are better able to comprehend and to retain what they hear. In the candidates for baptism, the missionaries look for a salutary sense of their own wretchedness, joined with a love for our Saviour, and a confidence in his merits, more than a great degree of intellectual knowledge. Holy baptism is administered either to the children of Christian parents, or to adult persons. As to the baptism of children, the father immediately notifies the birth of his child to the missionary, and solicits its baptism. The solemn transaction generally takes place in the next ensuing meeting of tne whole congregation ; except the infant be ailing, in which case it is baptized directly in the house or tent of its parents. The midwife, fiequently accompanied by the mother, brings the child quite naked to the missionary's wife, who dresses it; and after the missionary has addressed the congregation, and especially the children, in a short discourse, she presents the child to him ; he blesses it in a short prayer, with imposition of hands. u 1^ 4/1 i>' . u 1 1 ■■^ I • JSJ;-. 418 CANDIDATBS FOR BAPTISM. and then baptizes it into the death of Jesus, with tb« usual formulary. The infant is then carried to some of the national assistants, who as sponsors also impart their blessing to it with imposition of hands ; and the whole transaction is concluded by singing some suitable verses. In summer, when the parents live at some distance from the settlement in tents, they bring the child them- selves to be baptized ; but in case of necessity, one of the missionaries goes to them, and at the same time, visits the neighbouring heathen. The Brethren, of course, do not baptize the children of the heathen, not even of those who live in the settle- ment, since the future education of the children cannot be regarded as sure, till one of the parents, if not both, are baptized, or at least received among the candidates for baptism. Children of baptized parents, which, though young, may be supposed to have lo^t what ii) ususJly termed their innocence, are not baptized till they arrive at years of discretion, and have received the needful instruction. With the last-mentioned class, and with all the adults, the Brethren proceed as follows : When they are fully satisfied that it is the firm inten- tion of any individuals, old or young, to remain with the believers, and are assured by the national assistants, that the^ have frequentlv expressed a desire for- bap- tism, diligently attended tne public meetings, laid aside their superstitious customs, and conducted themselves discreetly, both amonc Christians and heathens ; and when it also appears &om frequent conversations with them, that they long to change their unhappy state for a better, a missionarv speaks with them, in order to prove the truth of tneir expressions, and of the testi- mony of the assistants. Their request is then considered in a conference of all the missionaries and their wives ; and if no material objection appears, they are received among the candidates for baptism on the next congre- gation day, and recommended in prayer to the Lord. From the time that they are regarded as catechumens, or candidates for baptism, the missionaries may be con- ADULT FEUSONS. ai9 vinced that they will remain in the conffresation. Thev enjoy henceforward, in common with the baptized, their proper meetings, are more frec|uently visited and spoken with than betbre, for their mstruction in the Ainda- mental truths of the Christian religion, and for the closer- observation of the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts. A trial is made whether they can learn by rote some short summary of Christian doctrine, or the Apostle's creed, with Luther's exposition. How* ever it is not absolutely required, especially of aged persons, to burden their memories with any precise form of words ) but the missionaries are satisfied if they can, when catechised, express their conception of Gospel truth, and the ground of the hope that is in them ; and in all their declarations, more regard is paid to an appearance of integrity, than to the quickness of their comprehension, the strength of their memories, or the fluency of their expressions* it diieserves to be mentioned here, that at present, many Greenlanders of both sexes, who have been edu- cated by the Brethren, and have learned to read well, take pleasure in entertaining the aged, who have not enjoyed the same advantages, by reading to them in their leisure hours ^ and the latter, by this method, learn much more than if they, with much toil, com- mitted a number of expressions to memory. Adult persons are not baptized singly, but always several together. These solemn transactions generailv take place on a congregation day, or some other festival. After a discourse to t£e congregation, and a particular address to the candidates, they are asked several ques- tions, in answering which, each makes an acknowledge- ment of his miserable state by nature, a profession of his desire for redemption through the blood of Jesus, and an open and solemn declaration of his intentions with regard to the future. They then receive absolution, and kneeling down one after another before the water, are plentifully overstreamed three times, while the form usual at baptism is repeated. Each is then blessed with imposition of hands. n: iv »■ )l if 'J i I t 'I 2«0 THE HOLY COMMUNION. The depth o£ the impression made by holy baptism upon the Greenlanders, may be best understood from the fact, that of all who have been baptised by the Brethren, only two have relapsed into heathenism. With regard to admission to the I^oly Communion, the missionaries proceed still slower. Speculative know- ledge is not required in the candidates, but an experience of the grace of God, a deep sense of their inward poverty and weakness, and a hunger after the bread of life. Having received a competent idea of this symbolical representation of the close fellowship of Christ and his church, they are permitted to be present, as spectators, at the celebration of the Lord's Supper. The solemnity being ended, they are placed before the congregation, confirmed, and assured of speedy admission to the par- ticipation of this grace ; and in case nothing intervenes, which ought to retard their enjoyment of the Com- munion, they are admitted the next time. * ■^l ' A few days before each Communion, the missionaries have some conversation with all the communicants, individually, in order to learn the present state of their minds, and whether their desire for the Holy Sacrament be unabated. In case any circumstance has occurred, which might prevent any individuals from enjoying the Sacrament, the impediment is if possible removed, or they are advised not to approach the Lord's table. The Holy Communion is commonly held once a month. Afler a short discourse, a public penitential confession is made in prayer, kneeling, and afterwards absolution is pronounced in the name of Jesus Christ. Then the bread is consecrated, and distributed by two mission- aries, during the singing of some suitable hymns. The communicants remain standing, and after the blessed bread has been distributed, they all kneel down together, and at the words : " Take, eat ; this is my body !*' they partake together at once, adoring the Lord for his good- ness, in silence. Then some verses relative to the Sacrament being sung, the wine likewise is consecrated, and distributed during the singing of some hymns rela- tive to the passion of Christ. Lastly, all the communi- rtf MARItt^GE ENCOUllAGED. 2^^ cants give each other the kiss of peace, in token of their joyful compliance with the last precept of their dying Redeemer. On the following morning, the communicants assem- ble again in the chapel, and sing a liturgy, expressive of gratitude for the grace which they havereceived. Individuals who fall into error, whose conduct dis- credits their profession, or who are at variance with any of their brethren, receive an exhortation or reprimand- from the missionaries. Should this prove inefl'eciual, they are excluded from the participation of the Holy Sacrament. In case of a public offence, they are some* times publicly dismissed from the congregation, till they manifest a sincere desire for forgiveness, and by obtaining; new grace, are enabled to lead a life conformable to the precepts of the Gospel. The Brethren in Greenland, as well as in Europe, prohibit any familiar intercourse between the sexes, as ich communication might easily lead to the most dis- agreeable and disgraceful occurrences. Marriage, when connected with no impropriety, is never discouraged. < Indeed widowers, who have small children, and young men, who have attained the age of twenty, and are capable of maintaining a family, cannot remain long single, without detriment to their affairs. In the choice of a wife, the latter are advised by their parents, and if they have none, by the missionaries. Each is at libei^ty to make the first advances himself j but they in general prefer to have some previous conversation with their teachers, who propose to the young man to alter his state. If he expresses a desire for marriage, he is asked, whether he has fixed his choice upon apy individual. If he has, it is gladly approved of, unless connected with circumstances, which might render it detrimental to his temporal or spiritual welfare, or it be the con- trivance of persons who have no right to meddle in his affairs. If he has not fixed upon any person, a proposal is made to him, which he is always at liberty to reject. If he acquiesces .in it, proper time is taken to consider the matter maturely, and when the man has come to a resolution, it is communicated to his intended spouse. i i- '' 'i ^^-•i^ 1 ■; i Ii^n SICKNESS. The consent of the women is sometimes very difficult to gain. For though they, upon these occasions, no more imitate the unseemly and frantic actions of the heathen, such as pulling on the hair and running away in a phrenzy, yet they often start whimsical objections, or give a flat denial, afler which all persuasion is fruitless. When the parties have come to an agreement, they are betrothed in presence of their relations. Tht inten- tion is then made known to the congregation, and they are recommended to its prayers. After some time they are joined in holy matrimony by the missionary; after which, both husband and wife take leave of their former associates, and receive their good wishes for their future prosperity. No inter-marriages are allowed by the Brethren between the believers and their heathen countrymen y and no man is permitted to marry more than one woman, or to put away his wife. Even with respect to marriages contracted by persons in a state of heathenism, and not in the most orderly manner, the marriage bond is held indiss(^uble, and conjugal fidelity enforced. No married woman is received into the Brethren's congregation, without her husband's consent, except she has been put away, as the Brethren abhor all means of acquiring pro- selytes, which would be subversive of divine as well as human regulations. When married people from among the heathen are baptized and admitted to the Holy Sacrament, they are blessed with imposition of hands before the whole congregation ; which ceremony is esteemed equivalent to the form of Christian wedlock. The Greenlanders dtyle it receiving the blessing of the church. When the Greenlanders %ll sick, the Brethren must be their physicians, and administer medicines suited to their complaint. Bleeding is frequently a successful remedy in catarrh, which is very frequent among them, owing to their manner of life, and in their re- markably plethoric constitutions, is generally attended with considerable fever. Of the cheerfulness and con- fident hope of the Greenlanders during sickness, the preceding narrative contains sufficient evidence. In METHOD OF BURIAL. 328 some, who after their baptism did not answer the ex- pectation of their teachers, such a remarkable change ibr the better has appeared, during the progress of some fatal disease, that the missionaries have frequently had reason to exclaim in the words of the adage, « all is well that ends well." When the soul of one of the converts is evidently about to leave its earthly tabernacle, the blessing of the congregation is imparted to the expiring individual, by one of the missionaries, with imposition of hands, during the singing of some verses, and prayer. Im- mediately after death, the relations dress the corpse in the Greenland manner ; and instead of putting it in a coffin, sew it up in a skin. Being laid in a bier, it is covered with a white cloth, on which are inscribed in Greenlandic, words to the following e£Fect : " You bear me now to my repose, As once they bore my Lord ; And as his sacred body rose, So mine shall be restored." A funeral discourse bavins been delivered in the chapel, four Greenlanders carry the corpse to the burial ground, preceded by the missionaries, and followed by the Greenlanders in procession. There it is deposited in a tomb walled up with stones, during the singing of a hymn ; and after praying the litany usual at burials, with the petition. Keep us in everlasting fellowship with the whole church triumphant, particularly with our brother, or sister N. N., the blessing of the Lord is pronounced, and the grave covered with broad stones, and green sods. None can censure the Greenlanders for the tears with which they bedew the grave of a beloved relation; but their former superstitious customs, and visits of con- dolence accompanied with dismal bowlings, are, as might be expected, never practised by persons who believe in the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. We forgot to mention, with regard to the schools for the children, that the books employed, are first a Greenlandic primer, containing also the lives of several H' ■ % fv. :>-"ll ,22* TJLIE GREENLAND SCHOOLS. happily departed children. Then, Lather's catechism, the four Evangelists, and the Acts of the Apostles, as translated by professor Paul Egede, if the children can procure them ; also a small hymn-book translated by the Brethren, together with a history of our Saviour's passion, and his last discourses, according to the Har- mony of the Four Evangelists, printed at Utrecht, 1759. The Latin letters have been introduced among them, being the plainest and most easily formed ; and some of the children have learned to write then, with considerable neatness. At the conclusion of their daily school hours, they learn some verses out of the hymn-book, or some scripture text, which is generally cnosen from among such texts as are the most frequent subjects of discourses in the chapel. In the afternoon no school is kept, as the mission- aries are then otherwise engaged, and the children assist their pareiits in domestic affairs. The boys m*ust also have some time to practise rowing the kajak, or darting the harpoon. During the summer, when the children go abroad with their parents, the school is entirely discontinued. Yet notwithstanding these in- termissions, their progress is surprisingly quick. Some learn to read well in one winter, and others have learned the larger half of the creed in a single day. No compulsory measures are employed, and when they grow weary, nothing but kind persuasion will encourage them to proceed. In conclusion we would only observe, that the striking contrast between the believing and heathen Greenlanders, would be an ex- cellent remedy for that chilling scepticism, which doubts of every thing that a biassed and polluted reason cannot comprehend, and which denies the efficacy of the Gospel to change and to ennoble the minds and the morals of mankind. Such a transformation as appears in the converted natives of this inhospitable desert, can scarcely fail to convince any candid mind ; a change from a state, seemingly little raised above that of the brute creation, to a participation in the same feelings which fill the capacities, and ennoble the understand- 7 LETTEll OF A 6REENLANDER. t^5 ings of the most illustrious individuals in the Christian community ; from impatience of any kind of restraint, to the obedience of faith, and voluntary submission to their teachers ; from the deepest ignorance and most stupid listlessness, to considerable mental cultivation, ana a lively sensibility ; from inflexible obstinacy and self will, to a docile and complying disposition ; from a revengeful to a forgiving spirit ; from an insuperable inclination for a roving life, to a repugnance to leave the settled ^abode of the missionaries ; in short, from the unbounded libertinism of lawless savages, to a voluntary and hearty acquiescence in every regulation which characterizes a well ordered family of Christians. The following short letters, from individuals among the natives to their friends, may possibly interest such readers as can relish the artless expression of the feelings of Greenlanders, poor indeed in knowledge, but rich in grace ; or who wish to examine the struc- ture of a language, which mi^ht be regarded a lite rary curiosity. What follows is the production of { married man, living at Lichtenfels, a Assarsara Joliatmes Assor* sok, Arljgut tersaneauit, Kano- gakHksomik assagingma, puiorsinnaungilara ; Tamimapiksanik tunningar- parma, Annaursirsum Attanik, Tok' koaniglo, Ikkeniglo ajok- asrsortarangma. Tanmkkoa Okautsivit kiblik' past UmcBtUga taimane, Stdlilo tamakkoinneit illuari' tuinnarpaka, VOL. ir. My dear Johannes, full of love ! How much thou didst love me, when thou wast here with us, 1 cannot forget ; Because thou gavest food to my soul. When thou concerning the Saviour'sbloodanddeath and wounds oflen didst instruct me. These thy words did per- vade my heart in such a manner, That since that time I no- thing besides can relish. % If I :ii,V,'f I ., I'-iN--,, m^ 1.ETTER OP A QREENLANDER. Adlab Hpeitsugluartissinna' , ■ tingilanga, Annaursirsuh Tokkoeet, An- nicello, Auello, Ikkesalo ; Kissimik tipeitsuktissinnau- anga. Vmoetimnut ajulersomut ad- lamik piomangilanga, Tamersa namagaka, Asarset Assarsigalo Han- nese Nulliengoalo IllagseU . lugik tamaunga pirsonga, • ilUssimaueU Annaursirsublo pekkogamin- ga. Tunnirsaranga Okausiksam- . Tiik Koissimarsunnuty Taimatog Nellursmmut ok" alluktitaranga tussarnar- r somik mamartamomiglo UmceteinnuU Imangoak nellyvngmersitso- marpaukitt Kannogdtomih okausekav' I punga, Nellursunnut okaU lukuma, Ima : Arlagut illivsisut Net- I lursungoulungalo AjortuU Uartorsursunga, Sullilo illoxme uamnik qjuU' gitsokangilanga, Annaursirsimale ttjamiar- panga nennivlungalo, 4 No other thing can rejoicef me, But the Refleemer's death, his passion, his blood and his wounds ; These alone can yield me joy- FoF my poor heart, I also nothing else will have, This suffices me entirely. That in company with thy and my belovedHannese (Beck) and his wife, I came to this place, thou knowest already. And since accordmg to the will of the Saviour, it was so to be, ' He gives me words also to the baptized-ones. And likewise, that to the heathens I speak such words, as are pleasing to hear, and relishing to their hearts. A little I will however ac- quaint thee. What words I make use of when to the heathens I speak. 'Tis in this manner : For- merly I was jus* as you are, an ignorant and wicked man ; And to this hour I have in my inner parts nothing good of myself. But the Redeemer has sought and found me, LETTER OF A OREENLANDER. Sfi7 ■>'■ 'i'll Okautsiminik kakoanga ken- And by his word called ine,' nerlerdlungalo, and chosen me, Nellursunnilo peBrsipanga, And from ;:he heathens set me free, Opertunnut IlkegeksunnuUo And to the congregation pissillunga. / of the faithful brought me. SulUU) qjortorqjungoama* And when I was yet a miserable man, Annernermtk qjokcersordlun- He, by his Spirit, instruct- galo, ed me, Aungminik uhharpei Ajor- And through his blood tikat washed away my sins, KivgaiungncBrsillungalo He set me free from the Ajortunnut tamannut, slavery of all sins, Tokkomullo Tomarsub pir- From death and from Sa- sauneranullo, tan's power. Sumikme annaukanga ? But wherewith hath he re- deemed me? i Aungminik nellekangitsomik, With his own blood inesti- mable ; Anniaminiglo pingitsomik Tokkominiglo, Okkorsea! Taima aktikso- mik Innuit Annaursirsum assauei, pigiomavlugit. UmcBttivsinik sink, tunniomagus- And with his innocent suf- ferings and death. Hark ye ! so exceedingly has the Saviour loved mankind, in order that they might become his property. ^ If your hearts to him now you will surrender, Nangminikilluarsaromarpei, Then he will himself pre- pare them, and makeyou happy. tipeitsuktillusilo, Taima okallugbigaka. Thus I use to speak to them. Nellungilettogy tersaneauit, Thou knowest also, that Ikkiortiksengoamnik pig- duko, Gub pekkursanik. Q g when thou wast here, I obtained an help-mate by God's will. i : 1 I ^■f\ '■■' i \i\ J i fi- '' 1 1 i 1 m 1 i.'M \ W\\ 1 ■ i III ; W"'''m 11 It'i .. • '.W f.77 ■ 2l ■ 1 1 1 ii'^'^'ii 1 1 ililil ^:'■■^• :rm ,3| •?■; ^""'^ 1 • : ' : ■ ■'■( if ! !■ ■■■■■■ •:' 1 1 % .M 1 ■rt' • II ^'%.. Ir ■■'I:- Mvi V».- «28 LETTER or A ORBEMLAND BOY. Taursoma Kencet Sanelo ti- fiefore his eyes we botFi peitsugluarpoguk, live contented j Assarsuserpuglo iaursomun- And the love of us both ga agliartorpok, towards him increases. Uauiingnut ilkksillunuglo. Towards each other we are friendly (or sociable). Sullueksmtvut naniarpauvut And all that we have to Amiaursirsivta Kencet sa- transact, we do it before n4, our Saviour's eyes. Assussiak nwenekau. It is indeed exceeding agreeable, Nulliareek ingmingnuk An- When married people to- naursirsomullo innulluar- gether before our Savi- unik pmmakkattigeeklu- ou r live happy, and prove iiglo, a help to one another in all things. Kaumanome kanomepunga A. K. I that live at Lichtenfels, A, K. The following was written by a Greenland boy. to the son of one of the missionaries, who was at the time at scfhool in Europe. Assarsara Jakungoak ! My dear little Jacob ! ^KsuT Umcettigoamne kun- J Much in my heart salute mngarbaukit, thee. NeHunginnama aksut a^sag- Because I know that thou angina, much lovest me, Taimaitomiktok aksut assau- Even so I much love thee. aukit. Agtekketit mahna piaka. Thy letter 1 have here re- ceived, AttuardtuguUo tipeitsutigaka And when I read it, it re- joiced me. Annaursirsuble Annia, Toh- But on our Saviour's suf- koallo, Ikkilo Ullut nun- ferings, death and wounds, gullugit erkeiginnarpaka ; 1 think daily and hourly ; Tuksiarbigirsara, And I pray to him, Nuttamik Saimaunerminik That new grace he would iunnekuUunga, give me. LETTERS OF ORCENL ANDERS. ' ^0 UnuBUingodrallo kersakullu- And my heart inflame. i; 'I go, Naugle kissimikuma summil' loneet ikkuma, NunguUugit Umcettm.*t neh jotigardluialo, tipeitsukti- turanga, Taimatog Aniastisia erkei- niarauko, Uanga pivlunga taima aktik- somik anniarmet ; Uangale sumik akkinniaisau- ara llliortinnik Ekkarsau- tiniglo, Tipeitsuktinieissauara, Kyannakau Annaursirsub Assasusia, Angnerumet Innungnut ia- manut adlanullo. E ovunga. Auarsamnut Xhttengutimnut Jakomut, KablwuBt-Nunametumvt, When I am alone, or where- ever I am, He to my heart is continu- ally near, and makes me joyful. Likewise when on his suf- ferings I reflect, How he on my account so much has endured ; Then I do not know what returns to make bim for what he has done forme. To live to his joy I inly de- sire. Worthy ofpraise(or thanks- giving) is the Saviour's love. It is greater than all, to- wards all men, in all places. I am £. - - - To my dear brotlier Jacob, in the European-land. The next is a literal translation of what was dictated by an aged couple. " Although our eyes overflow with tears, (which was really the case, as soon as they began to dictate,) our hearts are nevertheless happy. Our Saviour has made us to be of one mind ; and he has also warmed our hearts; now our constant prayer is, that they may never grow cold again. By his blood he can preserve them burning. — We suppose thou knowest that our Saviour has brought us and our family to Lichtetifbb, At our first arrival we found no people here, the land was destitute of every thing, and we had no meeting- house. But now I rejoice that there are many here^ Q 3 . j , - ' * 1 ., . '^ I 1 1] 290 LETTERS OF OREENtAIJDERS. whom our Saviour has washed with his blood ; and wc give you thanks that vou have sent us a house, in which we can now daily bear of our dear Saviour, and hold our meetings. Although we are still very deficient, yet we feel that our Saviour oflcn melts our hearts, as the sun melts the snow. And then it is as with the lamp, when fresh oil is poured into it, it burns brighter, and can enkindle others. If we happen to be with heathens, who still walk in darkness, we tell them that our Saviour has redeemed them also with his blood, and that if they would believe in him, they might be as happy as we and the other believers are. We also tell them, that he has delivered us out of dark. ness, and brought us into his light ; and that we now have his bleeding form every day before our eyes. Yes^ we represent him to ourselves as wounded all over his body, his hands pierced with nails, and his side transiixed with a spear, from whence bloo*^; and water flow, for the cleansing of our souls. In this manner we discourse to our countrymen. For since we have learned to know our Saviour in this light, we love him with our whole hearts, and rejoice in him." From a Greenlander in Lichtenfeh : " I have no brethren and sisters according to the flesh, but I have much rejoiced, when informed by letters, that I have so many spiritual brethren and sis- ters that belong to our Saviour. "Now I will tell you how it went with me last year, both with regard to my misery and happiness. I was very heavy, when my little son lay ill so long. I besought our Saviour to take him to himself. He did so, and 1 thank him for it. At that time, I recollected, how much afraid I formerly was of death. But since I know that our Saviour has broken the sting of death, I rejoice in the prospect of the time when he will be pleased to call me. Whilst here, I beseech him to let me sit at his feet, as Mary Magda- len did, that I may hear words of life from him ; LETTERS OF GRBfiNLANDERS. •^31 and when I go to bed, or rise in the morning, that he may be near me with comfort and protection. As often as I ponder on his great love to me, a poor sinner, 1 am so covered with shame, that I know not what to say. For I do not love him enoush by far. I cannot sufficiently express my gratitude, that he has permitted my husband also to partake of the Sacrament, so that we now can eat his flesh and drink his blood together. I also give you thanks for sending us teachers, who may show us the true way of life. Now 1 conclude, and am thy poor weak « S.K' ,'■ ''^ 'ill •AM i, ! tli 'i'-:" 'Hi til V ■'ii ;r A . ';' i^-'ll :: i' Q. 1 .. ..u ^1 \t\ .■*■■'■■■•& [-'■■.riiliJi *2sa CHAPTEH VII. CONTINUATION OF THE HISTORY. Introductory Remarks. — The Narrative is continued, — Death of Brother Boehnisch, — Heathen Greenlandertt Fkheriet^ Catualties.'- Hittory qfLichtenfels. — National Assistants. — Changes among the Missionaries. — State of New Herrnhut. — South Storms, — Escape of a Missionary from Danger. — Scarcity at Lichtenfels,—. Hamy Course of that Congregation. — Voyage of Matthew Stack. — Snofw, — Diseases^ Accidents^ and Deaths. — Visitors at New Herrnhut. — Kassiak. —-Arrival of Missionaries. — Increase (^ the Congregation. — Changes in the Colonies. — Death ofFrederiv Vth. — Visitors at Lichtetifels. — Remarkable awakening at New Herrnhut. — Tokko. — Immenek. — Rapid Increase of the Congre- gation. — Return of Henry Huekel. — Awakening at Lichtenfeu,— Visits qf the Brethren, — Firewood. — Accidents and Deaths. — Death ^Matthew Stach. — Appointment of a general Superintend- ant, — A third Settlement established at Lichtenau. ~ Out- Places. — Epidemic — Progress of the different Settlements. — Visits from the East Coast.— Singular ELpements qf several Greenlanders.— Dangers of the Missionaries and Natives. — Voyages qf the Bre- thren GriUich and Rudolph. — Scarcity qf Provisions. — Voyage of Brother Kleinschmidt. — Greenlandic New Testament. — Hard Winters, — Accident at Kangek. — Conclusion. While perusing the preceding pages, some of our readers must have remarked that no attempt of the United Brethren to convert the heathen, has been be- gun under more unpromising circumstances, prosecuted through a more appalling variety of obstacles, difficul- ties, and privations, or in spite of them all, been at- tended with more abundant success than the mission in Greenland. Every one interested in the cause of the heathen, will have observed with joy, that a people, whose countiy, habits, and manners of life, seemed to INTltODUCTOUY Itt^MARKS. US3 prccliule the maintenance or tlie operation o£ Christian missionaries amonff them, or any capability of being organized into a Christian community, have exhibited iw two flourishing, well-regulated congregations, a strik- ing cxempliflcation of the truth, that with God nothing is impossible. It doubtless contributed very niucli to the success of the first missionary endeavours of the Brethren, that the poor emigrants from Moravia, couid not supply men of much intellectual acquirement, but such as in lieu of this, were armed with a lively faith, sound sense, and a constitution inured to hardships and toil. Neither have the Brethren, in their subsequent labours among the heathen, found it expedient, to employ in the capacity of missionaries, men of much literary knowledge, who cannot easily conform their manner of life to the circumstances, or sympatliize with the ig- norance of the savages, and who might be inclined to substitute their own projects for the suggestions of the Spirit of God, or combine some preparatory process with the use of the simple weapon of their spiritual warfare, the doctrine of reconciliation. Indeed, it appears from the general progress of Chris- tianity, both through the civilized and heathen world, that God delights to manifest the glory of his strength in the weakness of his instruments, that his presence is not felt, to use the words of Scripture, *• in the whirl- wind, nor in the fire, but in the still small voice." We do not mean to assert, that intellectual attainments can never be advantageously brought into action by the Christian missionary. Where Satan has fortified his kingdom with the bulwarks of systematic superstition, and established his throne in the minds as well as the htsaits of his subjects, it may frequently be necessary to employ all the powers of learning and argument to dislodge him from his strong holds. Hitherto, how- ever it has not been the lot of the Brethren to engage in this species of warfare ; nor do they possess sufficient means for its successful prosecution. Meanwhile they regard with unspeakable joy, the triumphs of the cross Tritfl a .1 1 Ik I' •\ .lti i *! ' , '23i, DEATH OF BllOTUEIl UOEHNJSCH. [1763. over the empire of Satan, where it is supported by re- gular schemes of mythology, and defended b^ the cun- ning of a wily priesthood, as for example, m Hindos- t'an ; in which country all the energies of a cultivated understanding may be advantageously used, and are at present successfully employed by different denomi- nations of Christians in this extensive field of mission- ary exertion. But we find that we are digressing, and now resume the narrative of the Brethren's mission in Greenland, which in the last chapter was brought down to the pe- riod where Crantz's History of Greenland terminates. In carrying it on to the present time, our materials are principally obtained, for the first five years, from a Continuation of the History, published by Crantz him- ' self, and subsequently from the diaries and letters of the missionaries, of which specimens may be seen in the Periodical Accounts of the Brethren's Mission, edited by the Rev. C. T. Latrobe. The beginning of the year 1763 is rendered memor- able by the death of Frederic Boehnisch, who had la- boured for thirty years with manifest blessing, in the * congregation at New Herrnhut. He had, during the prosecution of his arduous duties in the spring and autumn of the preceding year, by more than usual exposure to the inclemency of the weather, contracted a disorder, which discovered itself by a constantly increasing weakness, and gradu- ally undermined his constitution. A fall from a rock, which happened to him in July, increased his malady, and hastened his dissolution, which took place on the ^9th of that month. At his burial, the tears of the assembled congregation of Greenlanders testified their affection for tne deceased ; and many lamented that they had not benefited more by the instruction of one, who had for thirty years been so uniformly and so zealously attentive to their spiritual and temporal in- terests. After the death of Brother Boehnisch, Matthew Stach, who had been recalled from Lichtenfels, at the express desire of the deceased, and arrived two days 176«.] HEA.THEN GREENIiANPERS. 235 I 'I afler his burial, took upon himself the direction of the mission. In this labour his principal assistants were Balienhorat, who returned this year from a visit to Germany, the relict of the departed Boehnisch, who ma- naged the concerns of the widows, and John Boehnisch, assistant to the mission. The deacon, John Soerensen, had on the 8th of July, set oft' on a visit to our German congregations. Meanwhile the departure of their lato missionary seemed to have had a salutary impres- sion upon the Greenlanders. The children, especially during their catechisatious and singing meetings, often manifested lively emotion. In their outward concierns, such as collecting turf and grass for the sheep, the Brethren were faithfully assisted by the Greenlander Johanan, who had been in Europe in the year 1748. A ship, which had been cast away on the coast, sup- plied them with a sufficiency of firewood. The national assistants reported that the discourses which they had had an opportunity of delivering to the heathen, during the seal-fishery, had made very little impression. Some of the heathen, after having received^^ the exhortations of the believing Greenlanders, re-' marked that they had frequently heard of a great flood, which had overflowed the highest mountains, and about which they craved some additional information. Others wished to ascertain the opinion of the assistants con-- cerning some other narrative ; but none had any ears for the Gospel* One man enquired whether our Saviour had grown out of the earth, like the first man. Upon being answered in the negative, and informed of the origin of man, his fall, redemption, &c. He said, " This is all very pleasant to hear, and we should be very eager for conversion, but * * * " We need go no farther. The visiting of the sick, and the assemblies for con- versation held by the national assistants, gave occasion to many sincere and affecting declarations, and proved a blessing to all parties. Much could not be done among the heathen, some of whom endeavoured to seduce the believing Greenlanders to a participation in their follies, and succeeded in carrying ofi' one boy, ... '! ,:r :;l y^ Si '»»:/ S iti' ,'■ 2S6 HISTORY OF LICHT£NF£LS. [1763. \(r1ioin they concealed between two rocks from the search of the missionaries. He was however found the day after, brought back to the sound, and given in charge to a steady Greenlander, to whom he promised obedience. The seal-fishery of the Greenlanders was, owing to the mild weather, attended with less danger and more success than usual. However, one single female under the care of the Brethren, lost her lifie. She fell from a high rock while gathering sea-weed, into the water, and was unfortunately engulphed and carried out of sight by the waves, before any assistance could be procured. Also, in June, a woman's boat from the factory, laden with herrings, was overturned in a heavy sea*. The fisictor immediately dispatched some sailors to its assistance, but before these could reach the spot, five unfortunate females who were in the boat, had found a watery grave. Three of their bodies were found ; and a discourse held at their inter- ment, on Rev. xx. 13., " The sea gave up the dead, which were therein," proved a consolation to those who could not procure the benefit of christian burial for the remains of their deceased relations. In Lichtenfels, the congregation had increased more in the five years which had elapsed since its form- ation, than that at New Herrnhut in the first fourteen years after the arrival of the Brethren in Greenland. Many Greenlanders, awakened by the preaching of the missionaries stationed at New Herrnhut, betook themselves afterwards to Lichtenfels, and were baptized there ; while the heathen showed most eagerness for the Gospel in the vicinity of the new settlement. Many of these were much affected by the good news of salvation, and a few joined the believers. Among the new converts was a woman whose children had Jived in Lichten/els, which she had often visited to the blessing of her heart, but was for a long time deterred by her husband from coming to the Brethren. At last her husband determined to become a member of the congregation himself. Upon her arrival in Lkhterijels, she said, " I cannot express what I felt> 1763.] HISTORY OF LFCHTENFEIS. 237 when my husband said, 'steer the boat to Kaumar- sok,* (Jjichtenfels.) My heart was filled with joy, and. my eyes with tears. Now I am here at last, whgre I have longed to be for so many years." The unremitting assiduity of the national assistants in their labours among the heathen, during the fishery, was very commendable. They observed some emotion among their hearers, but the fruits of their labours did not immediately appear. On one occasion, a strange heathen, while fishing in company with the Green- landers from Lichtenfels on a fine moonlight night, evinced how strongly the sublimity of nature can impress the belief in the existence of a God. The heathen al- luded to, suddenly raising his eyes, with an air of singular astonishment, to the starry heavens, exclaimed : " It must indeed have been a Nallegarsoak, (a great Lord,) who made these things." " Yes," said one of the '1 i ^enlanders, ** it is a mighty Lord who created the V and the moon and the stars, and this same Lord died on a cross for the salvation of men." ♦* And," added he, "at the end of the world, when all these things which now astonish you, shall be burned with fire, this Lord will take the believers to a blessed place, where they shall rejoice with him for ever. Should you therefore, not like to become a believer?" The heathen gave no answer, but seemed merely to shudder at the idea of an universal conflagration. Among a number of Southlanders who, on their journey to the north, fixed their temporary residence near the settlement, many showed a strong desire to remain there, but were withheld, either by their rela- tions, or by the allurements of a roving and dissipated life. Some attended the meetings, and one man, with- standing every temptation, took up his abode among the Brethren. During the baptisms, which occurred frequently this year, and at the solemn celebration of the Holy Commu- nion, the presence of the Lord cheered the heart of his congregation ; and the conversations held with the com-, municants every month, evidenced their growth in ' 1 Ik P\ U m^: -n Sd8 FISHERT« [1763.- grace, and in the knowledge both of themselves and of their Redeemer. The discourses of the national assistants were often strikingly impressive. One of them expressed himself as follows : " How deep our fall must have been, we may learn from the sufferings of Jesus ! When God created the visible world, he used only one word, * Let it be,' and it was ; but our redemption could not be accomplished by a word. To restore us poor creatures he had to descend from heaven, live and suffer as. man, tremble and groan and sweat bloody swea^, and at last expire in torments, that he might redeem us by his blood. Can any one therefore refrain from loving our Saviour, and devoting soul and body to his service ?" The missionaries having once asked the company of national assistants assembled in conference, whether in case all the European Brethren were forced to leave Greenland, or, like the ancient Normans, were cut off from all communication with Europe by the ice, the native Brethren would continue to live as a congre- gation of Jesus ? The assistants replied, " We have often thought on this subject, and are of opinion, that though the disciples of Jesus, after his death, went each his own way, most of us would still combine to per- petuate the regulations and the faith which we have received from our teachers." When the Greenlanders began to inhabit their winter houses, the missionaries kept a discourse upon the text: " How lovely it is when brethren live together in unity!" It moved the whole congregation to tears. The different families were afterwards visited, and the national assistants were exhorted to enforce domestic order and strict attention to the education of the children. Family devotion, especially in bad weather, was strongly recommended. The fishery of the Greenlanders was much hindered by storms, which did considerable damage to their boats and other utensils. Towards Christmas, however, they caught a few seals. It deserves to be noticed, that the catechist, Meyer, acquired such agility in the ijiyh.'] CHANGES AMONG THE MISSIONARIES. Qni^ r'm management of the kajak, as to be able to accompany the Greenlanders on the fishery. In this year, a slight shock of an earthquake was felt in the south. Some visiting Southlanders declared that it had frightened them much, and forcibly re- minded them of the saying of the missionaries, that ** the heavens and the earth would pass away with a great noise." They were told with what joy believers can await the coming of their Lord, but pretended not to understand. The increase of the congregation by twenty persons during the vear, made it necessary to erect a new house ; in which labour, the Greenlanders were assisted by the missionaries. In the next year, several changes took place between the missionaries of Lichteitfels and New HcrmhuU In August, John Soerensen returned from Germany, and brought with him Salome Schlumbergerin, a young woman, and John Zacharias, a widower from Moravia. Matthew Stach, accordingly returned to Lichtenfels, accompanied by his mother, and the widow Boehnisch. John Beck removed to New Hermliut, and Ballenhorst to Lichtetifels, On theS9th August, the catechist Huekel, was married to the above mentioned Salome. How the different offices in the congregation were distri- buted amonff the missionaries, it is scarcely needful to mention. By occasion of these alterations, they anew solemnly devoted all their talents and strength to the service of their Master, and recommended themselves in prayer to his support. * The Danish missionary at Godkaab, Mr. Gregersen, returned this year to Copenhagen. Mr. Bioern Berthel Larsen, catechist at the Danish colony of Zukkertop, and the oldest servant of the College of Missions then living, was appointed missionary of the same place. Mr. Sturm, son-in-law of Mr. Larsen, undertook the manage- ment of the trade at Zukkertop, and Mr. Olsen removed from that factory, to undertake the superintendance of the whale-fishery at Holsteinburg, !U M'j;! V'^ S4Q SOUTH STORM. [1764. The congregation at New Hermhut, received this year no increase from without. Most of the heathen had moved out of its neighbourhood, and the passing Southlanders were as deaf to the Gospel as the rocks which they inhabited. The islands were visited from time to time, and the natives resident upon them seemed to hear the Gospel with pleasure, but they all made some excuse for delaying to join the Brethren. One of them said that he was quite willing to change his E resent abode for New Hermhut^ especially as his aunt ad a great liking for the Brethren, but that he was determined first to fetch a number of tent-poles which lie had lefl in the south. Eight Greenlanders who came from Kookoemen, attended the meetings dili- gently, were much affected at taking leave, and pro- raised, with much apparent sincerity, to return. Meanwhile, the internal course of the congregation was highly satisfactory. All the festivals of the Cliris- tian church were duly solemnized. On one occasion, the re-admission of five Greenlanders to the fellowship of the believers, produced great emotion in the con- gregation. On the memorial day of the first establish- ment of the Brethren's mission in Greenland, seven adults were baptized. The celebration of Christmas was attended with peculiar blessing to the children. They had a love-feast on Christmas eve, during which they were catechized, and astonished all the auditors by the clearness and correctness of their answers. Shortly before the new year, two boys who had had a quarrel, came to the catechist, in order to complain of each other. He exhorted them rather to complain of their own wickedness to our Saviour, and implore his grace. They both immediately knelt dov/n, and prayed very affectingly to God, that he would enable them to begin the new year with new hearts, and forgive all that was past. After rising, they kissed each other, and being fully reconciled, returned to their several homes. > In the spring of the year, a rapid succession of storms from the south, frustrated and endangered 17^*] £8CAP£ OF A MlSSiaNARY FHOM DANGER. 24rl nlodost every attempt both of the Greenjanders and Europeans to procure sustenance at sea. No Eyder fowl were to be shot, as these birds only approach the land in a north wind. Several crops of turf were soaked and spoiled by the rain in summer; the half- dried hay was scattered by the wind, and the produce of the Brethren's garden almost entirely destroyed. The Greenlanders could neither catch fishes nor seals, and the herring fishery was spoiled by the rain. . One of tl?*?ir ' "ss, if truei wouJ'l aff(»rd matter for the sectato _ it s^ nonsters. A bi.,; '.*^d Greenlander related, that while fishing, he had heard a loud voice under the waves, like that of a man overturned in his kajak ; and at the same time observed something of a red colour flouncing about in the water. What can this hi^ve been but a mermaid ? Many escapes are recorded of both Europeans and Greenlanders in their excursions by water, in every respect similar to those which have been already related. One fine day in March, the catechist Huekel, set off on a hunting expedition ac* companied by the assistant Boehnisch. They had scarcely reached the hill called Riperberg, when they were met by a violent storm. Boehnisch, who was on high ground, and saw it coming from a distance, imme- diately set off on his return ; and had advanced as far as the harbour, when he found himself unable to pro- ceed, and took refuge under a rock. When this ceased to be a protection, he again got up, walked on, passed the missionary's house, and proceeded along the road to the colony. The storm, meanwhile, took the cate- chist by surprise. To save himself from being thrown down, suffocated by the drifting snow, or dashed against the rocks, he laid himself down on his belly, crawled along for a whole hour, till he met with a crevice in the rocks, and then buried himself as deep as possible in the snow. In this situation he l^ four hours, till the storm abating suffered him to proceed to the settle- ment. His clothes being soaked with sweat, wer^ so stiffened by the frost, that he could scarcely walk. As soon as the Brethren learned that he had left his M •1 .'■ ^ 'i h 'm I.I • * ' 4 I i VOL. II. R j|2|it -n.i-o^'.J SCARCITY AT LICHTBNFELS. [1764. icdmpanioti alone, they set out with some Greenlanders to seek him, and found him lying in an exhausted and almost lifeless state, at the bottom of the hill. The zeal of the Greenlanders on this occasion was highly praiseiworthy. Many, on receiving the first tidings of his misfortune, ran seeking him all over the country, in the most dreadful weather; and when the missionariefi approached the settlement after their successful search, they found that half the congregation had come out to meet them with shouts of joyful congratulation. In April the kajak belonging to Amasa, a bap- tized Greenlander, was found shattered and floating on the sea. Its owner was never afterwards heard of. The Brethren conjectured that he had been enticed away and slain by a certain Southlander, who had fre- quently visited New Hermhut, and shown a ver}' friend- ly disposition, but had committed several atrocious murders in the south. The missionaries had every rea- son to believe that Amasa was prepared for his sudden and untimely end. ' In September, Gregory a baptized man was over- turned in a storm, and perished before his companions could come to his assistance. He joined the Brethren in the year 176@, and since that time his course of life bad been uniformly pleasing ; as he always conducted himself like a genuine but unassuming follower of Jesus. 'Ill Lichtenfels, both in this and the following year the Greenlanders experienced a striking contrast be- tween the scarcity of the temporal and the abundance of the spiritual gifts of God. The winter of 17t>4 was as severe as the preceding year had been mild, many of the unbelieving Greenlanders died of hunger, and the inhabitants of the Brethren's congregation suffered much want ; yet the economy of the latter, together with the assistance of the Brethren and the merchant at the factory saved them firom the deplorable fate of their neighbours. The spiritual course of the congre- gation during these years was very satisfactory to the missionaries, and seemed constantly approximating to >/' 1765,] CONOIIEOATION TIIERC. — VOYAOB OP STACK. ^43 that even tenor of unaffected codliness which it nvas their constant aim to establish. The children made perceptible advances both in knowledge and grace; and the baptized and communicant adults, by the dili- gence with which they attended all the opportunities for edification, the emotion which t\\ey often display- ed, and the unfeigned delight, with which they con- verged on spiritual topics, showed that they knew in whom they had believed. The congregation had an increase from without of twelve persons* By the ship which arrived in 1764, theBrethren received a new boat* purchased for them by their friends in Europe. It came in a dismembered state, so that they had to con- tent themselves with their old leaky boat, till the ar- rival of a ship's carpenter, in the next year. They felt exceedingly grateful for this present, which in all probability was the means of saving several valuable lives. Towards the end of the year they were em- ployed in repairing their house, nnishing the kitchen, and adding a new room for the accommodation of their expected assistants. About this time also, Matthew Stach and John Beck changed places ; the former re- moving to Lichlen/els and the latter to JS^ew HerrmhuU In the beginning of the year 1765 Matthew ^itaoh undertook a voyage to the south *, to explore the cir- cumstances of the country and its inhabitants, after having previously gone to JSfew Herrnhut to consult with the missionaries there, and taken an affecting leave of both congregations. During his absence the con- gregation at Lichiejifels was superintended by the missionary Balenhorst. , ; , r^i The winter this year was still more rigorous than the last. Even in April a deep snow covered the ground, and rolling in huge balls from the mountain which overhangs the settlement, threatened destruction to the chapel and the Greenland houses. Fortunately no harm was done. On the night after this accident . ' ■ ^ '.)•., :.■■.■•,;;..■. ■, r. ■ •>*;») * The places at which he touched are ' ^lumerated in a geogra- phical sketch contained in a note to Vol. i^i ' ; * • ' : tr nfbn'^D'jnH .i^i.'iii R ^ A If 1 "' ■\ ■■ ' (H *' M J f >[ ^44 s^fow. — accidents, diabaseii, and deaths. [176^. the srrow drifted in such immense (juantities into the hollows between the rocky ridges which surround Lich- ienfeb, that in the morning the circumadjacent country presented a complete level to the eye ; and, what is still more remarkable^ some Greenlanders who were fishing a few miles off when the snow fell, were drenched with a heavy shower of rain. In May, there were frequent and violent storms, which greatly disturbed the occupa. tion of the Greenlanders. The Brethren, as usual, ac- companied the latter on the herring fishery, partly in order to care for the spiritual security of theirflock, partly in order to catch some fish for the relief of the poor in times of scarcity. Owing to the continual and heavy rains, both they and the Greenlanders had very little success. In winter, the missionaries had sufficient employment in building an oven, caring for their flock, and occa* sionally hunting. The missionary Stach, while engaged in the last- mentioned pursuit, in company of the as- sistant Rudberg, was overtaken by a storm. Rudberg, being provided with snow-shoes, was driven like a ship under sail with great rapiditv to the seUlement. But Stach, approaching too near the brink of a precipice, fell headlong into the valley below ; fortunately he pitched in a snow drifl and escaped unhurt. One of theGreenlanders met with a curious accident. Though well experienced in all the shifb and evolutions of an accomplished seal-catcher, afiter having struck a seal, he suffered the line which ties the bladder to the harpoon to twine round his arm. The flying animal consequently overturned his kajak and dragged him under water ; and no sooner had he, by the expert and strenuous use of the pautik (oar) again regained the surface, than he was pulled down on the other side ; so that it was not till he was nearly exhausted by repeated exertions that he managed to recover his position. Another having harpooned a seal, the enraged crea- ture returned the attack, and tore his kajak. Two of his companions with the greatest difficulty and danger succeeded in partially stopping the holes with seals' fat, and conveying his sinking boat to land. 176^.] VISITOlUt. — ARRIVAL OF MISSIONARIES. 215 Other accidents from seals, snow, and storms were very numerous ; but in this year none of them fatal. Several Greenlanders died of pleuritic maladies, spitting of blood, consumption, and other disorders. It is im- possible here to give a detailed account of their dying moments ; suffice it to say, that the death-bed scenes of all, without exception, added to the many incontro- vertible testimonies of the power of the Gospel, and contributed to cheer and invigorate the minds of the missionaries. The commencement of the year 1765 brought a number of strange Greenlanders, principally from the south, into the neighbourhopd of New Hermhut. They all took up their winter quarters in Kangek, and fre- quently visited the settlement. They were generally willing to listen to the Gospel ; but some were so bold as to declare openly that they did not wish to be converted, but to remain heathens. Among the rest, the old sorcerer Kassiak came to visit his son, who was baptized. His uniform reply to the exhortations of the Brethren, that he would reflect upon his awful state and upon the expediency of being prepared to meet his God, was, " I am too old to learn. Let the young people be converted, that they may become wiser and better. If I were to be converted I should join your company, because I see that your profession and your conduct agree ; but I am now too old, and must go on in my old way." The missionaries also diligently visited the natives ; and had reason to hope that their continual exhortation and instruction were not unat- tended with blessing. On one of his visits Brother Soerensen observed a mother suckling her two children, one of whom was fourteen, and the other twenty-two years of age. None of the heathen could be prevailed upon to come and live at New Hermhut Three new missionaries arrived with the ship' this year, namely Gottfried Grillich, John George Flue- gel, and Joseph Neisser. The Greenlanders in New Hermkuty as well as those in Lichtenfils, found it very difficult to procure a maintenance, owing to the un- . R 3 .1 •! ' ' 1 1 ■ 1 ;'l ^B '!i. ■ '' . QiS t!i7CREA8E OP TH£ CONORBOATtOK* [1766. (leasonable weather ; and the Brethren found it almost impracticable to collect a sufficiency of hay for their sheep. They therefore killed fourteen ot, them, re- ducinji; their flock to fifteen* The natives in Kangek, and Its vicinity, were driven by hunger to devour their shoe-soles, tent-skins, and other more loath- some diet, to which the believing Greenlanders were never forced to have recourse. In summer and auf umn, however, the productiveness of the fishery enabled the Greenlanders to dispose of a considerable Quantity of blubber to the factor. Two of them perished at sea, by the overturning of their kajaks under unfavourable cir- cumstances. They had both previouslygiven the mission- aries much satisfaction by tlieir quiet and orderly con- duct The schools were kept as usual, with thirty boys, and forty girls ; and the monthly celebration of the sacra- ment was always a real refreshment, both to the mission- aries and their flock. The national assistants became more and more active and useful. Many of their dis- courses, of which literal translations are given in the diary of New Hermhui, but which are much too long for msertion here, exhibit such specimens of pathetic expostulation, eloquent expression, and appropriate ap- plication of similitudes, as would not disgrace the pages of an European divine. Of all the converts who departed this year^ the dying expressions and deportment were such as to leave very little doubt upon the minds of the missionaries that they had exchanged this vale of tears for a place in the mansions of eternal bliss. • In the next year nothing unusual occurred; except- .i^g the hacrease of the congregation by fifleen per- 'sons, six of whom were gamed by Matthew Stach, during his visit to the south, six were the relations of the assistant Abraham, who had followed him from a distance to the settlement, and three had come from the neighbourhood. One old man was baptized on his death^bed, and died in firm reliance upon the merits of his Saviour. Three of the believing Greenlanders found a watery grave, while engaged in seal-catching, and N- '"'l 17670 INCREASE OF THE CONOIIRGATION. 247 tlieir untimely fate gave the missionaries a good oppoN tunity to expatiate upon the necessity of continual! rea- diness for that death, which so freauently snatched them away while employed in their dangerous occupation. The impression made by the exhortation, was evinced by the lively emotion or the whole congregation. Be- sides those mentioned, sixteen persons departed thii life. The year I767 was distinguished by a remarkable awakening among the natives in the neighbourhood of New Hermhutt so that the Brethren were not disap pointed in the expectations which the watch-word for the first day of the year inspired. It was, *« The Lord Jesus Christ is our nope." At the discourse upon this text, many heathens were present, and lister ed with evident emotion. In July, protracted south winds and rainy weat';T detained a number of Southlanders on their return (rom their northern expedition, in the neighbour ..o.^d of the settlement; and gave the missionaries an opportunity to preach the Gospel to these benighted natives. They all listened with the most devout attention ; and one of them removed to New Hermhut, From Pissugbik, a place thirty miles farther north, a number of Green- landers visited the settlement in September, and punc- tually attended the meetings. The fruits of this visit did not appear till the next year, when a number of the natives from the vicinity of Pissugbik joined the Brethren. From the Kookoemen, Millor.iuirak, an old friend and host of the New Herrnhut Greenlanders, brought the corpse of his daughter, in order to have it interred in the Brethren's burying-ground. His request was granted, as his daughter had, during her life, given many proofs of unafiected piety. He declared that he repented of having hindered his four children from joining the Brethren, and promised that, next summer, lie would send them all to New Hermhut, The youth Levi, who the year before, had been bap- tized, but had withdrawn himself from the society of R 4> ':| ''>■ Hi 1^48 CHANGES IN THE COLONIES, [1767. the believers, came back this year of his own accord. He had been one of the two examples of baptized Greenlanders relapsing into heathenism, aqd his unex* pected appearance in the meeting caused a wonder, ml emotion. . Many shed tears of joy, and compared bis return to that of the Prodigal Son. He said that throughout the last winter, his conscience repeatedly stung him for breaking the awful contract which he had made at his baptism ; that he liad been much impor- tuned by his relations to stay, but not being able to stifle his conviction, had at last resolved to come to New Herrnhut, and solicit the pardon of the mission- aries. Some of his relations followed him to the settle- ment, to see whether he were well received, and ap- peared pleased with the step which he had taken. The weather this year was unusually favourable to the fishing and hunting of the Greenlanders ; and the herbs in the missionaries' garden rivalled those of Ger- manv in size. The catching of birds failed, owing to particular circumstances; but the capture of some dolphins was an abundant compensation. Only one disastrous accident occurred. A Greenlander from the colony,, while in his kajak, was shot dead by a loaded gun, which another person was reaching to him from the shore. The arrival of the ship occasioned several altera- tions in the Danish colonies. The factor, Mr. Lars Dalager, having previously obtained his dismission from the company, removed to Finland, to superin- tend the trade there. In him the Brethren lost a well-tried friend. He was succeeded by Mr. Sturm, from Zukkertopt and Mr. Olsen, of Holsteinburgh, returned into his old situation in the former factory. With the Godhaab ship. Brother Joseph Neisser re- turned to Europe, in order to have a wound in his neck cured, which could not be properly treated in Greenland. Eight children and fourteen adults were baptized, three Brethren and five Sisters were admitted to the first enjoyment of the Holy Communion, four pairs were V* JW.3 DEATH OF FREDERIC V. 940 married, and eleven persons departed this life. Sliort sketches of the lives of the latter are given in the diary, but as they exhibit little that is uncommon, we shall omit them entirely. Of the spiritual course of the congregation, we need only mention that it proceeded in blessing. The church had rest, and was edited, and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, was multiplied. Meanwhile the congregation at Lichtenfels was un- expectedly reioiced in July, 17^6» by the return of Brother Matthew Stach, from his journey to the south. A short time afterwards he accompanied the Greenland- ers, who had sailed with him from New Hermhut, back to their homes. By the ship which arrived this year, the Brethren received intelligence of the demise of Frederic V.,King of Denmark, and thesuccession of Christian HI. to the throne. The Greenlanders were convened for the notification of this mournful event, reminded of all the blessings which they had enjoyed under the benign government of the deceased monarch, and informed of the request of his successor, to be remembered in their prayers. They then fell down upon their knees, and the missionary implored the continuance of the Divine blessing on that royal house, which had set such a bright example to all other European potentates, in being the first to encourage and support the en- deavours of pious Christians-, to rescue their heathen brethren from chains of darkness. At the close of every sentence, the congregation responded, " Hear us gracious Lord and God." With the same ship, the catechist Huekel went on a visit to Germany, on account of the increasing indis<» position of his wife. He held his farewell discourse on 1 John, iii. 2., and afterwards recommended the con- gregation in prayer to God. The Greenlanders testi- fied their aflection for him by their tears. His place was supplied by Brother Zacharias and his wife from New Hermnut, whose infant daughter was soon afler baptized. This was the first baptism of a child, born of European parents, in Lkhtenfels, l IS!'; '31! 'i 1 •m I **. !'<;'l '% 250 COURSE OF THE CONGREGATION. [1767. t On November 8th, the wife of the missionary Balen- horst was removed by death, from her active labours in this congregation, to that rest which remains for the people oi' God. She had been confined a whole year by a lingering disorder, accompanied with very troubled- some symptoms. As specimens of the internal course of the congre- gation, we shall briefly state a few of the most striking occurrences, v" f "* Ji child, five years old, was frequently observed lying with his face on the ground, and thanking the Lord, that a sickness which he had had some time before, had been made the means of his salvation. He also fre- quently exhorted his little brother to remember the covenant made at his baptism. A sick girl, in whom the operation of the Holy Spirit and an ardent longing for conversion of heart had been observed for some time, was baptized on her death-bed. Three days after the transaction, she departed happily. Immediately after her death, a strange heathen came to the missionaries, and requested to be baptized, declar- ing, with tears in his eyes, that he was determined to devote soul and body to Christ. He was permitted to stay in the settlement. A woman newly arrived at Lichtenfels was fre- quently heard weeping and bemoaning her wretched condition. She seemed comforted and enlivened by the assurance of the missionaries that such persons as have the deepest sense of their own sinfulness, are the most successful petitioners at the throne of grace. In the month of September, many Greenlanders were afflicted with a violent pectoral complaint, which was the means of removing several into another world. One of these was Joseph, a married man. He was of a melancholy temperament, and when asked by the mis- sionary on his death-bed, whether he could look forward to his approaching end with joy, he answered, "No.'' On one occasion, however, whilst the missionary was discoursing to him concerning the love of our Saviour, 17670 '^^ii'^' VISITORS AT LICHTENFELS. "l^iAiv 251 he all at once received such a comfortable assurance of the pardon of Iiis sins, that he began to sing for joy, and could not express how happy he felt in the pro- spect of his dissolution. He subsequently requested the last blessing of the church, and his happy spirit soon after fled away from its earthly prison-house into the arms of its Redeemer. ** It is impossible to express," the missionaries write, <* how much this fatal epidemic contributed to endear the little flock of believing Greenlanders to our hearts. Whilst we visited the beds of the sick and dying, and wit- nessed the cheerful confidence with which they longed for the coming of their Saviour to take them away, the feelings which swelled our bosoms often found vent in tears." ; The year I767 is rendered remarkable in the annals oi' Licktenfels, for the almost unprecedented frequency of the visitors in that settlement. They came not only out of the immediate neighbourhood to visit their friends, or, like the passing Southlanders, to recruit themselves on their journey to the north, but from dis- tant places, and with the express purpose (rf" hearing the Gospel. Their numbers were greatest in July. Many of them who had seen Matthew Stach on his journey, visited that missionary, and heard a repetition of the truths, which he had told them during his stay in the Souths They attended the meetings diligently, and heard the Gospel, not without emotion. Many heathens also came from the Lodge, from Innuksuk, firom KeUin- geit, and other {^aces. They were admitted as guests to some of the meetings of the baptized, and especially to the Litany, as it was observed that this form of prayer seldom failed to make a salutary impression upon their minds. Meanwhile brother Balenhorst frequently visit- ed the lodge, Innukisuk, and the other islands, and spent the night with the savages, as during the day few men in Greenland are at home. In answer to his ex- hortations, many promised that they would remove to the settlement next year. Such decisive promises they seldom failed to perform. It appears from the diary, that ■if' c' ^'!'^i-| ^'. 'I f I Is* m ■T'l it W'!M is'f m S5S REMARKABLE AWAKENING AT NEW HEARNHUT.[1767* on November S6th, Balenhdrst returned from a visit i6 the lodce, and immediately set out on another, in com- pany of brother FJuegel,to Innuksuk, where he found a great number of attentive hearers. Sickness prevailed amongst them, and seemed to have been sent to pre- pare their minds for the more cordial reception of the Gospel. When the missionaries were indisposed, or otherwise employed, the national assistants were dili- gent in their attendance upon the heathen. By these reciprocal visits of the Brethrep and the heathen, eighteen individuals in the course of the year took up their abode in the settlement, with a firm determination to be converted. Of the impression made upon their hearts by the Gospel, the reports of the national assistants afforded sufficient demonstration ; and some of them were received into the number of candidates for baptism. At the close of this year, the inhabitants of Lichterifels were exactly two hundred in number, i During the winter, the Greenlanders suffered from scarcity of provisions, and were often exposed to great perils among the driving ice. The youth Noah was lost at sea. He was a fatherless orphan, who had been educated by the Brethren, and had given them much satisfaction. A Greenland Brother and his wife repaired to the south, to perform the last duties to a distant relative, wIk), having perished among the ice, had afterwards been driven on shore by the waves, and there left un- buried by the natives. On their arrival at the spot, they found that the foxes and ravens had anticipated them, and devoured the body. After their return, the Green- lander, who was one of the native teachers, expressed himself as follows, in a public discourse : " Ah ! how miserable was our state while we were heathens. I'ill my late journey, I never had just ideas concerning it ; but now I understand fully how much our Saviour has done for me, in bringipg me to the society of his people. For his merciful leading, in this respect, I will praise him to all eternity." ^ The awakening above described, among the visitors 1768.] TOKKO. 253 ■ %X at Lkhten/els, fell far short of that which took place in the course of the year 1768, in the vici- nity of New Hermhut, Its origin and progress shall be briefly described. A Greenlander from the Kookoemen, named Tokko, in whose eyes a severe sickness had letl a troublesome weakness, committed himself to the care of Mr. Brasen» a young Danish sur- geon, at the time on a visit in New Hermhut, The Brethren seized the opportunity of proclaiming to him the glad tidings of the Gospel. It soon found entrance into his heart, and also made a powerful impression upon some of his family and friends who came to visit him. Having received a radical cure, he again betook himself to the islands ; but scarcely had theGreenlanders forsaken their winter houses, when he repaired with his whole family to New Hermhut, in order to share in the blessing of Christian fellowship. Stimulated by his ex- ample, two families speedily followed him from Kangeic, ana another Greenlander, at the head of a family, de- sired permission to accompany the believer^ on the her- ring fishery, which request always betokened an inten- tion to join the society of the Brethren. Also the above- mentioned Millortuarak, who had for twenty years been a friend of the Brethren, and never heard the Gos^ pel without emotion, at length resolved to fulfil his re- peated promise, and came after the herring-fishery was over to New Hermhut, with all his connections, which, with the other new arrivals, added thirty to the number of that congregation. Another wonderful commoiion, which took place amons the heathen ot'Pissugbik, who had so long slept the sleep of death, was still more striking than that just described, and spread as far as Lichtenfels. The manner in which it was brought about is somewhat extra- ordinary, and will be best explained by a short extract from the diary. The substance of the missionaries* ac- count is as follows : " On the 6th of March many strangers from the colony, Kangek, KelUngeit, and Pissugbik attended the sermon in the chapel. The at- tendance of visitors from the last-mentioned place was "7 ,11" vH m Ir ? I J '^!n ■ 'n ^^ i,i\ ¥ 1» \ ^4t IMMENEK. [1768. occasioned by an uncommon occurrence. An old and far-famed Angekok, called Immenek, who had for a series of years heard the Gospel both from us and the native teachers, was this winter, while' busily en- ga^^ed in his professional pursuits, so appalled by a fright- fuf vision, that he determined to renounce every species of jugglenr, and proclaimed to his countrymen that the tricks or the Angekoks were barefaced impo- sitions, and that all who needed spiritual aid should betake themselves to the only true God. In his dream, the last judgment and the fate of the damned had been presented with many horrible circumstances to his imagination, and affected him so much, that he retired to a lonely place, and spent a number of days in sorrowful meditation. No one could tell what had become of him. During his seclusion, according to his own account, a man appeared to him and said : " It is time to arise out of thy sleep. If thou wilt go tc the believers thoii shalt be delivered from the power of the evil spirit who now possesses thee, and be saved from eternal damnation." In consequence of this advice he resolved, that on the iirst approach of summer, he would remove to the Brethren. In the mean time he sent his step^son and three men of his family to New Hermhut, to request that two Brethren might be sent to him, in order to instruct himself and his people in the word of God. These messengers he dismissed with the following injunction: «*Go now and hear the agree- able words, and bring some of them back tome." On the same occasion he declared, that if none of his family would accompany him, he would go alone to New Hermhut, They all, however, declared that they would share his fortune, whatever it might be. His four deputies attended the meetings diligently, remain- ed after all the other visitors had left the settlement, visited all the houses, and were very assiduous in learn- ing verses, in order that, as they said, they might have something to take back to Immenek. On the 12th they set out on their return. According to their re- quest, two assistants accompanied them. Five days 1768.] RAPID INCREASE OF THE CONGREGATION. 255 after, the latter returned, and could not express with what joy they had been received by the heathen of Pissugbik. They were scarcely allowed time to eat, so eager were the natives of that place to hear some- thing of their Saviour. It seemed as if neither chil- dren nor adults could ever be satiated with hearing of that greatest of all wonders, that the true God came into the world to die for lost man. '* On the first of May, Immenek came to visit New Hermhut with some of his family, preceded and fol- lowed by a large number of women's boats and kajaks. After being e Ified for some time by the meetings of the congregation, during which both he and his company displayed the most eager attention and devout deport- ment, he established his house-keeping at the settle- ment with a family of twenty persons. Soon after, three umiaks full of Greenlanders followed him from Pissugbik, and raised the sum total of the increase of the congregation, during this year, to the unpre- cedented number of eighty souls. Some of these aflerwards exemplified the case of those to whom our Saviour alludes in the similitude of the way- side. From the hearts of others the evil one snatched away the seed of the Word. Some heard the Gospel with, joy, but having no depth of conviction, were soon overpowered by temptation. Many however received the doctrine of redemption through the blood of Christ into good and honest hearts, where it soon sprung up in flourishing shoots, and exhibited in its maturity fruit- bearing trees of righteousness, to the praise of God and the joy of the missionaries.'' While the Brethren were out fishing in the Sound, a Greenlander began to preach certain visionary doctrines, whereby he collected a number of admirers and unsettled some weak and unsteady minds. The missionaries could not at once put a stop to his unprofitable dis- course, but admonished the national assistants to keep a watchful eye upon him, and warn the simple not to pay too much attention to his fanciful speculations. '-r^ I, .51 .11 J: SB <-'% ti ,sii iSf n ^0 OCCUKRENCBB* [1768. In this way the sectarian spirit which seemed ready to creep in, even amongst Greenlanders, was nipped in the bud. One manied man who could not withstand the attractions of heathenish merrimenti nor be convinced of the advantage of remaining in the congregation, resolved to leave the settlement. His wife wept bitter- ly, and tried every means to induce him to stay, but in vain. They therefore went away, byt had scarcely travelled as far as Kangek, when they a^^cidentally met with some national assistants, whose persuasions had such an effect upon the husband's mind, that he resolved to return immediately. In general, the internal course of the congregation gave the missionaries much joy, and af!brded many unequivocal signs of increasing spirituality. Twenty children and ten adults were baptized, fourteen persons were admitted to the holy communion, four pairs w^re married ; and the departure of sixteen favoured indivi. duals, in as far as human judgment could determine, translated them from a life of hardship and toil, to that place where having sown in this world in tears, they shall reap a harvest of never-ending joys. The Greenlanders were very fortunate in their seal- fishery, and sold 150 barrels of train to the factor. In April they caught several "Mte fishes, which they prize highly, both on account of their flesh and the sinews in the tail, which they use for thread. The herring- fishery in June turned out very well, though interrupt- ed by storms. In December the whole congregation having gone to the islands to catch awks, were sudden- ly overtaken by a violent gale from the north, which drove along thick drifts of snow and threatened to cut off their return to New Hermhut, All, however, suc- ceeded, after running many risks, in gaining the settle- ment during the night, excepting some boys, who were snowed up in their kajaks. It was apprehended that they had been frozen to death. Next morning, however, they were found, after a long search, and 1768.] VISITS OP THE BRETHREN'. 2A7 exhibited every appearance of lifeless corpses. After much shaking and beating, some degree of animation was perceived, and by a thoroiigii warming over a lamp, together with the use of some stimulating cor- dials, they were restored to perfect health. By the ships which arrived on July Ist, Henry Huekel returned to Greenland, after a stay of two years in Germany. He brought along with him his sister Korina, a widow, and Anna Schutertin, a single woman. The latter was made inspectress of the young women and girls, and the former married to the mis^ sionary Ballenhorst. ' To return to Lichtenfels, The visits of the mission- aries in the adjacent country, and of the Greenlanders in the settlement, together with the constant preaching of the Word, kept up the awakening which had been begun the last year. Concerning a visit in Irmukmk, the missionary writes : " I was received with cordial welcome by the natives^ and, in speaking with them individually, fbimd in many a real desire to become the property of our Saviour. At taking leave, they earn- estly requested a repetition of my visit. The catechist Grillich vkited the Graeder-Jiord, and instr acted the natives there, as well as his slender knowledge of their knguage permitted. They appeared particularly de- lighted with the hymns which he sung or read to them, and desired that they might be visited by some one who was better acquainted with the language. In KelUngeit and other places, the natiorial assistants were very diligent in proclaiming the Gospel to their country- men, and expatiating on the hai^ppiness of believers. From all the inhabited parts of the neighbourhood, visitors crowded to the settlement, solely for the pur- pose of hearing the Gospel. They enquired when the congregation days would arrive, and carefully counted the days till the time of these festive celebrations. The solemn baptizm of adults were, afler receiving the permission of the missionaries, numerously attended by them. During the Passion Week and Easter holi- days the assistants brought many pleasing accounts of VOL. II. s •n n: f58 SCARCITY OF FIRE WOOD. the blessings enjoyed by the strangers during iiieir attendance in the chapel. The result of all this visit- ing was, that as soon as they had collected a suffi. ciency of seals and other provisions, several families came with all their goods and chattels to Lichten/els, and increased the number of its inhaJbitants with sixty persons. Several of these had never seen an European house, and consequently never been in a mission establishment before ; but most were such as had had frequent intercourse with the Brethren, and frequent opportunities of hearing the Gospel. Those who re- mained in the neighbourhood visited Lichterifek again in autumn, and celebrated Christmas with their be- lieving countrymen. They were visited in return, and again invited to the settlement. The missionary Soerensen who came in summer from Nffw Herrnhut, made a tour in the neighbourhood, accompanied by the Brethren Grillich and Fluegel, partly in order to instruct the natives, and partly to collect grass for the sheep. They were every where receivetl with hospitality, and heard with attention. The Greenlanders this year, owing to the favourable weather, were enabled to procure a plentiful supply of the edible products both of the land and sea. The scarcity of drifl-wood for firing, compelled the mission- aries to seek a substitute in the bushes, whioh at the farthest extremity of the bay, where the sun has more power than on the open sea-coast, grow to a considerable size. The collecting of them was attended with much trouble and danger ; for it was necessary to carry them down the almost perpendicular ledges of rock which ience the shore, and to cut them into small pieces, as their crooked shape would otherwise have made it impossible to get a- sufficient quantity into the boat. This labour was rendered still more harassing, by innumerable swarms of flies who had established themselves among the bushes, and viho defended their possessions with such vigour and effect, that the eyes of the missionaries were swollen up with the inflammation produced by their bites. DEATH OF MATHEW 8TACH. ^59 1> i Many dangers as usual attended the Greenlanders at sea, and one boy perisiied in the waves. A Greenland woman saw his kajak overturn, and its occupier creep out, but beibre any assistance could reach the place, he went down, and was never atlcrwards found. He had, previous to the fatal accident, evidenced the reality of his professions, by the steadiness of his lifie, and been considered by the missionaries, a fit subject for baptism. Another boy, named Jehu, had his lip struck and wounded by a stone. A bandage was ap- plied, and the blood stopped. But on the next day, the wound burst open afresh, and such a violent haemor- rhage took place, that before proper assistance could be procured, he had bled to death. He was a youth from whose good capacity, excellent habits, and real piety, the most sanguine hopes of future usefulness had been entertained. Besides these two, twelve soul^ passed into eternity. • In 1771, the venerable Matthew Stach closed his long and successful labours in Greenland. He spent the remainder of his days at Wachau in North America, where he fell asleep in Jesus, in the 77th year of his age. The progress of the mission appearing to require the presence of a person, who should be qualified to un- dertake the general superintendancy of its concerns, Brother Christopher Michael Konigseer was sent to Greenland in that capacity in 1773. Though he was upwards of fifly years of age when he arrived in the country, he applied himself with indefatigable diligence to the study of the language, of which he soon obtained a very extensive and accurate knowledge, Having received a liberal education, an advantage which none of his predecessors had enjoyed, he was enabled to correct their translations, and also added several new versions of useful works. Among these were a Green- landic Hymn-book, and a translation of the Summary * Here ends the Continuation of C.rantz. The rest of the narra- tive is compiled from the Continuation of the History of the Brethren, in German, and from the periodical accounts. s Q I 4 I m •i I', QGO appointment op a ORNERAL 8»'PEniNTfiKDANT. of Christian Doctrine, which have btt* ..rint«i(3 ; besides some smaller pieces in manuscript. Ever since the coasting voyage of Matthew Stach to the South, it had been in contemplation to begin a new settlement near Cape Farewell, in a station where many heathens resided ; but several years intervened, before circumstances proved favourable to the execution of this plan. At lensth in l??"!*! the missionaries John Soerensen and his wife, and the single brother Gottfried Grillich were entrusted with this difficult commission. It was a fortunate concurrence> that about the same time, the Greenland fioard of Trade resolved to found an additional colony in the south, under the conduct of Mr. Anders Olsen, a friend of the Brethren ; for their prospect of deriving regular supplies from the European settlements, whence alone they could expect them in the first years of their labours, must else, in so remote situation, have been extremely dubious. Afler a a tedious and stormy voyage, the party, consisting of our missionaries, and some families of Christian Green- landers, who occupied four large boats, arrived in the island of Onariok, Here they found a tepid spring, which irrigated with its streams a verdant meadow ground, diversified with flowers of the gayest colours, a captivating sight for European eyes. But this island, not being adapted to the pursuits of the Greenlanders, another spot was selected for a winter residence, a few miles distant, on the Agdluit$ok-fiorde. Besides their own company, the Brethren had the spiritual care of upwards of thirty baptized people, belonging to tlie Danish mission, who followed Anders Olsen to the South; and their daily meetings were frequented by about ninety of the Pagan inhabitants of the country, whom curiosity had attracted to the new settlement. Within a circuit of a few miles, nearly a thousand Greenlanders resided, to whom they preached the word of Atonement with visible blessing; for as early as the ensuine summer, they had the pleasure to receive four- teen adults into the congregation of b^elievers by holy • iM-.\ ■stv n. t.fiun'. ■. NEW COMMERCIAL REGULATIONS. 2(J1 *' ■7!., baptism. The name of IJchtenau was given to the infant settlement. Several new commercial rep^ulations were made in 1776 by the Directors of the Greenland Trading Com-" pany, which were calculated to secure the interests of the natives against the rapacious avarice of European dealers, and fixed an advanced price of blubber in barter. But the benefits resulting from hence to the trade of the Greenlanders, were not without a corres- ponding disadvantage. A cotemporary order directed that the Greenlanders should divide themselves into smaller parties during the winter, instead of living to- gether in one place ; an arrangement which occasioned much additioal labour and anxiety to the missionaries, and was, in many respects, highjv prejudicial to the spiritual welfare of their flock. To obviate the want of regular instruction, they were necessitated to main- tain a visiting correspondence with the different stations, situated, for the most part, at the distance of ten miles or upwards from the settlements, besides appointing one or two native assistants to reside with each com- pany. At two of the most considerable of these ouU places, houses were afterwards built for the accommo- dation of a missionary and his wife, during the winter, in order that the ministries of religion and the educa- tion of the children might be more fully provided for. The utility of this plan was obvious, but insurmount- able obstacles arose which led to its abandonment. By degrees, the converts themselves became aware of the injury done to their souls, by their disper- sion and long absence from their teachers ; many on this account, refused to leave the settlements in future, and the greater part of those who had removed to the several provision-places, returned in a few years. * * The regulation above mentioned, bein^ still enforced, the Green- landers, though they might justly claim the right of choosing their place of abode, have, by the advice of the missionaries, and to satisfy the merchants, agreed to a partial distribution in these out- place, where, however, they have not the benefit of a resident missionary. s 3 I N ]' ^62 A DESTRUCTIVE EPIDEMIC. In 1777, both congregations were deprived by death of their oldest missionaries, John Beck and Michael Ballenhorst. The former of these venerable labour- . ers in the vineyard of Christ, was the last who remained in the country, of the five Brethren, towhose meritorious 2eal and activity, the foundation of our missionary suc- cess in Greenland, is, under God, to be attributed. In addition to his pastoral duties, which he discharged with exemplary faithfulness, he translated the entire New Testament, with several portions of the Old, into the native tongue ; and only a year before his departure, assisted brother Konigseer, in-revising a version of the Harmony of the four Gospels. A destructive epidemic again spread its ravages through the country in 1782. At New Hermhuty the distress rose to such a height, that there was scarcely a sufficient number of healthy persons to bury the dead. Numerous families were plunged into the deepest misery by the death of their most efficient pro- viders, and a multitude of motherless infants were thrown upon the public compassion. The number of deaths in this place from April to August, amounted to one hundred and twenty-five, and the mortality was not even then at an end. Lkhtenfels was visited some- what later by this dire pest, but with equally fatal vi- rulence. Tjnder this burden of calamity, the Bre- thren had, however, the consolation to see the suf- ferers look forwards to their dissolution with a cheer- ful resignation, springing up from the assured hope of everlasting blessedness. Meanwhile, the new establishment at Lichtenau was rapidly increasing, and began to wear the appearance of a regular settlement. An European house was erected for the missionaries, and the temporary building which had been run up in the Greenland style, for the cele- bration of divine worship, soon required enlargement. During the second winter, nearly two hundred persons resided at Lichtenau, and within seven years from its commencement, this congregation numbered two hun- dred and five baptized persons among its members. TtSITS FROM THE EAST COAST. 263 Nffm Hermhut and Lichtenfels had indeed ceased to be missionary stations, in the strict sense of the word. The whole surrounding neighbourhood having been gradually christianised under their influence, they could expect little increase for the future, more than what might ari^e in the number of children born and baptized within their bosom. Cases of adult baptism were not, however, unfrequent, as the Brethren, on the admis- sion of a new family to reside in the place, were not wont to extend the rite of baptism to all its members in- discriminately, but deferred it till such time as they could reasonably believe them to be fit subjects of that holy ordinance. They lost no opportunity of proclaim- ing .the Gospel to those roving bands of pagans, who still, at intervals, paid them casual visits ; and they felt the liveliest joy, whenever a rising convicj;ion or the truth of Christianity prevailed over the migratory habits of the strangers, and induced them to exchange their life of wanderings for a home in the settlement. Lichtenau, on the contrary, was still the centre of a large heathen population, attached to the district by the stores its bays affi)rded, and its facilities for every kind of game. Many, it is true, were for a long time deaf to the invitations and promises of the New Testament : but not a year passed, which did not bring an addition of a greater or smaller number of converts, aroused from their sleep of death by the powerful voice of the Son of God, and eager to unite themselves to the company of the believers. Strangers from a very remote part of the country sometimes visited this settlement. In October, 17^5, two men came from the east coast, who had been the whole summer on the road, and whose residence was, in all probability, at kast five hundred miles distant. According to their account, iron is very scarce witii them. It is their custom to farow their dead into the sea, instead of granting them burial. The story of a race of cannibals who haunted the east coast, was also familiar to them. In 1790, the mission- ary Ender again spoke with some east Green- s 4 B \i il ■':li| N 264 DEATH OF BROTHER KONIGSBER. landers. They described their country as extremely barren, scarcely afifbrding grass enough to stuff their boots. The eastern ice-blink appears, from their account, to be a vast congeries of enormous frozen masses, projecting in many places to a considerable distance into the sea ; during the whole summer, the avalanches burst from the summits, and thunder down the sides of this glacier in almost uninterrupted succes- sion. The drifts of ice are invariably swept along their coast by a powerful current setting in from the east, so that it is obviously impossible for any vessel to land. In summer the air is of a warmer temperature than on the west side. No herrings are found. Sledges driawn by dogs are in common use, as in Labrador. Brother Konigseer departing this life in 1786, was suc- ceeded in his office, as superintendant of the mission, by Brother Jaspar Broderson, a student of theology, who had already lived several years in the country. He resided by turns at the three settlements, entering with his whole soul into the multifarious engagements which devolved upon him, but devoting particular attention to imbuing the minds of the young with correct notions of the Christian faith; Being firmly persuaded, that the best service he.cotild render to his flock, would be to extend their acquaintance with the inspired volume, he employed his leisure hours in translating select portions of the historical part of the Old Testament, and of the prophecies of Isaiah. Be- sides thiS} he compiled a new collection of hymns for the use of the Greenlanders ; and having brought a small printing-press with him from Europe, he struck off a few copies for immediate circulation, till a larger im- pression could be printed in Germany. But the mission did not long enjoy his useful services. A severe fit of illness, in April 1792, so weakened his constitution, that he could indulge no hopes of recovery in this rough climate, he therefore returned to Europe with his family in 1794. Both the Greenland congregations and his fellow labourers were deeply afiected at parting with him ; for they highly HISTORY OF ASIA. ^26S '1 valued the unwearied diligence with which he attended to their interests, and would willingly have kept him longer amongst them. In the preceding year, the mis- sionary, John Soerensen, also left Greenland, being in the eightieth year of his age, forty-seven of which he had spent in the service of this mission. It has already been mentioned in the former part of this work, that in case of family quarrels amongst the natives, one of the parties, but more commonly the man, sometimes runs away into the wilderness, and lives and dies in voluntary seclusion from human society. Some such incidents are recorded of baptized Greenlanders. Abia, an inhabitant of Lichtenfels, had suddenly disappeared, in November 1785, and as his empty kajak was found some time after, cast on the shore, the general belief was, that he had perished at sea. Nearly ten years afterwards, a Groenlander affirmed, that in a solitary excursion to catch eider- fowl, he had seen the long-lost Abia, sitting on a hill, and had conversed with him. He told him his name, and enquired after his wife and children, adding, " that he had withdrawn from the society of men, merely on his wife's account. The first winter had passed very heavily, but time rendered his solitude more bearable, and he now felt perfectly at ease. Having pic vided himself largely with powder at»a shot, when he went away, and using it sparingly, le had still a store re- maining. He thought much oi his children, and of the Saviour, and trusted in hh. mercy. He had always cherished the wish to speak wHh one human being and only one before his death ; that wish was now satisfied, and he would never again suffer himself to be seen by man." After making this solemn declaration, he bec- koned the intruder to be gone. He was covered with rein-deer pelts, coarsely tied together, and had on a cap of hare-skin ; his boots had the appeaiance of being netted. Minute and consistent as this statement appears, the missionaries however express some doubt whether this interview, which rests on the testimony of a single m '\{ _ 5 ll ■ 'h 11 r. ^66 ANOTHER ESCAPE INTO THE WILDERNESS. person, may not have been the dehjsive presentation of a dream. There is not the same ground for distrust, with regard to another convert, Peter, who eloped from the same settlement, into the desert, and is said to have been seen several times in the summer of 1797, but could be induced by no persuasions to return. An abortive project of the same kind is related in the diary of New Hermhut for 180S, and the passage merits our notice, as being an agreeable proof of the sincerity and open-hearted disposition of the convertu. One of the native Brethren from KangeJc, called upon the missionaries to confess, as he said, his abominable intentions. He stated, that on account of many quar- rels which had lately occurred in his family, and of which he owned his own inconsiderate language to have been the cause, he had resolved to forsake them, and escape into the wilderness. With this intention, he set off in his kajak, and spent some nights in a londy place : " But," continued he, " as I was about to pro- ceed to a still greater distance, 1 thought. Oh ! now happy are those people whom the Lord himself re- proves and chastens when they are going astray ? Oh ! that I were one of them 1 As I was rowing along, all at once the sea seemed to assume a most dreadful appearance, and with all my exertions, I could not get forward. My kajak appeared to be fixed to the bottom, though I was in the deepest part of the bay. I was frightened, turned about, and immediately rowed to the shore. Here I passed a sorrowful night, and as soon as it was day, returned with shame and repentance to my family. Now I thank our Saviour most fiervently, that he delivered me from the ways of destruction. Never more will I follow the impulse of my own heart, but He shall be my only Lord and master." Though many imperfections .ind blemishes sullied the spiritual beauty of the Greenland congregations, and the missionaries had to lament the deviations of several of their people ; yet the blessing of God still rested upon them as visibly as heretofore, and the DIFFICULTIES OF THE lllSSIONARIES. 267 gracious influences of his Holy Spirit were appa- rent in a life and deportment, conformed to the pre- ' cepts of the Gospel. Among the declarations of the converts, detailed in the annual accounts of this period, we find numerous instances of true Christian fueling, and entire simplicity of heart, not less impressive than those afforded by the earlier history of the mission. A single quotation from a discourse of one of the native assistants, which spoke the sentiments of all his brethren, will be sufficient to show, that their faith was not the mere product of habit and education, rest- ing in a cold and heartless assent to the doctrines of men *, but a vital belief, built on the solid ground of personal experience. " Words," he says, ** are utterly inadequate to express our sensations, when we reflect that the Creator of all things came down from Heaven to redeem poor and needy mortals, by his agonizing death. It almost exceeds belief j but it is still true -, no man can believe it of himself, until the Holy Spirit gives him power. Then also we become sensi- ble of the in-dwelling of Christ in our hearts, and under this feeling, it is impossible for us to resist the convic- tion, that he became man, and suffered for us." But while the missionaries thought themselves amply repaid for their ministerial labours, by the general har- mony and pleasing conduct of their spiritual children, they had to face many difficulties and dangers in their secular occupations, chough happily preserved from fatal accidents. Thus, in June 1794, two Brethren having gone to a neighbouring island, to search for drift-wood, were completely surrounded by the ice, and confined to this dreary spot for upwards of a fortnight. Their fellow- missionaries in New Herrnhut, alarmed by their long- absence, and fearing that they might be in want of provisions, repeatedly sent Greenlanders to gain in- telligence of their situation j but they found it impossi- ble to penetrate with their kajaks through the ice. The prisoners, meanwhile, had the good fortune to meet with a plentiful supply of fish, which freed them ■(^ ^n i\ n (■• I m ti.:i m '^1 '•m 268 GREENLANDERS SURROUNDED BY THE ICE. from the apprehension of perishing by hunger, and they at length made their way through the ice, though at the risk of their lives, to the main-land. But here they found themselves at a considerable distance from the set- tlement, and had to perform a fatiguing journey over high hills, and down abrupt valleys, before they arrived at New Hermhut, having been absent a whole month. Dangerous as these excursions were to the mission- aries, the^ were at the same time absolutely neces- sary, their comfort during the winter depending on the drift-wood they collected, as the quantity of wood fovind in Greenland, in a growing state, is very insig- nificant. A scarcity of this article could not therefore but occasion the greatest distress, as was the case in New Hermhut, in 1793, when the shoals of loose ice which obstructed the fiords, prevented them from laying in their usual stock of fuel. During the three coldest months, they were obliged to have recourse to the disagreeable expedient of heating their rooms by train- oil lamps, after the manner of the Greenlanders, reserv- ing the little wood they had left tor culinary use. Though the pursuits of the natives inure them to hardships, and their uncommon dexterity enable them to brave every shape and front of danger, even they frequently fall victims to the rigours of their ungenial clime, and are still more frequently delivered from situ- ations of the utmost peril, tney f^carcely know how. Two Greenlanders. belonging to Lichtenau, return- ing from catching seals, found their passage impeded by a new coat of ice, with which the intense frost had almost instantaneously overspread the surface of the sea, if i-ich a thickness, that their oars were soon rendered useles^; and they saw no hope of ex- tricating iiieir kajaks from the fragments which jammed them in on every side. Their desperate situation was noticed from the shore, but it was impossible to come to their assistance. At last a rising gale drove them out of sight, together with the ice-field in which they were embayed, leaving their friends to suffer all the tortures of the most exquisite suspense. Fortune VARIOUS ACCIDENTS. 269 ately, however, they reached a piece of* old ice, tlie only one remaining in the bay, where there was barely room for themselves and their kajaks. On to this they scrambled, and reposed themselves as well as they could during the piercing cold of the night. In the morning, the new ice had become so firm that it would bear their weight, and they walked home in safety. The very next year, a large party in a woman's boat met with a similar disaster, in the same place and ac- companied with nearly the same circumstances. Being overtaken by a hurricane, and unable to make the land, thejr took refuge on a mass of floating ice, drawing up their boat after them with great difficulty. Thus situ- ated, they drifted out to sea with the wind, and were already passing the last island, when the fury of the storm abated, on which they ventured to launch their boat and gained the land. Caleb, a native assistant of Lichteitfels was about the same time obliged to spend two days and a night in the open air when the winter's cold was most intense. At night-time he drew his kajak upon the ice, and slept in it in a sitting posture, while the thermometer stood at zero of Fahrenheit. On his return home he merely complained of thirst, though he had tasted no food during the whole time of his absence. But such pri- vations are of common occurrence among these hardy natives. Another Greenlander had nearly lost his life by an unexpected attack from an animal of the whale tribe, to which he had approached too near with his kajak. The fish by a sudden spring seized the fore-part of the skin-boat with his jaws, raised it completely out of the water, and after upsetting his enemy retreated into the deep. Two persons who happened to be at no great distance, hastened to the spot, and helped him to re- cover his balance, so that he escaped without any other injury than the alarm inspired by so unusual a rencontre. But what peculiarly claims our attention in this brief review of the hardships and casualties to which life is subject in these arctic regions, is the imminent risk incurred by the missionaries themselves in their ■■I m ■i m 1 ■■■s| t' I ^0 REMARKABLE PRESERVATONS. passage to and from their stations. The voyage of Brother Grillich to Europe on business of the mission, is one out of several instances on which we found this remark. He left Greenland in October 1798, with a ship belonging to Julianahaab, but after plying about for five weeks, in the lower part of the strait, the vessel was so much damaged by the drift-ice, that she was obliged to return. In February 1799, he again set sail in the same ship, but the quantity of drift-ice at sea was greater than before, and hampered them perpetually from the 18th to the 25th of that month. At length the captain Ending the ship so clogged and damaged that he could not hope to save her, resolved to quit her with all the property on board. On the last mentioned day, therefore, the whole ship's company began their march over the ice, dragging a boat after them. They spent two nights in the open air, and had no means of quenching their thirst, but by drinking melted *snovv. On the third morning they came to open water, in which they launched their boat, and sailing five leagues, again reached the barren coast of Greenland. Scarcely had they landed when a most tremendous storm arose with snow and sleet, so that had they been still at sea, they must all have perished. But they were now in a very disastrous situation, without any food or covering for the night. On the following day, however, it pleased God to send them a favourable wind, with which they sailed five leagues and reached the colony at Fredericshaab in safety. After a further detention of a month in this place. Brother Grillich once more reached LichtenfelSy and finally arrived in the October following at Copen- hagen with the ship from Godhaab. Some years afterwards, in 1804, the missionary C. F. Rudolph and his wife experienced a still more remark- able preservation in an attempt to return to Europe, after a service of twenty-six years in Greenland. They left Lichtenau, June 1 8th, and went on board the same evening at Julianakaab, the nearest colony. The ship's company consisted of twenty-six persons, in- SHIPWRECK. S71 eluding the crew of a vessel stranded in tiie preceding year netfr Staatenhuk, They had on board a cargo of 700 barrels of blubber, but no peltry, owing to the number of rats with which the vessel swarmed. After lying a month in this bay, blocked up by the ice, the ship weighed anchor, and wore her way with much difnculty to Dutch Harbour, about two miles below the colony. Here they were again detained for seve- ral weeks by the southerly winds, which drove the ice constantly towards the shore. Intelligence at last arriving from JuUanahaab, that the sea was free from ice off Nurutrsuk, the captain again weighed anchor, though appearances were far from being favourable. The wind was S. E. and very high ; it rained heavily, and there was still much ice in sight. During the whole night they sailed con- tinually between huge fields which made a roaring noise ; and the sea being rough, the vessel roiled ex- cessively. To secure her in some degree from the shocks to which she was exposed, large pieces of ice were fastened to her sides with grappling irons. In this manner they forced their way for three days and nights through the icy masses which surrounded them. " Early on the 25th of August," writes Brother Rudolph in his journal, ** a storm arose from the south- west, which drove the ice-mountains close to our ship. The scene was awful and horrible ; we expected mo- mently that she would be crushed to pieces. As she , drove with close-reefed sails before the wind through a multitude of smaller flaws, she struck upon a rock, from which, however, she got off without injury. But soon after, she ran her bows with such force against a large ice-field, that several planks started at once, and the water rushed rapidly into her. The captain immediately jumped into the small boat with part of the crew, and having landed them on a large field of icej, returned for another party. The rest were employed in unloosing the large boat, with the intention of saving themselves in it ; for the ship w'as ''i IB n Ji m 'h : «7^ SIIIP^VRECK. filling fast with water, and perceptibly going down on her starboard side, till, by the tinio the boat was hoisted out, only the larboard gunwale appeared above water. The captain and all the sailors having lefl the ship, my wife and I were \ei\ alone above our knees in water, holding fast by the slirouds. At last Captain Kiar of the stranded vessel, came to our assistance saying : * 1 cannot possibly forsake these good people.* By his friendl aid we got into tiie boat, and had our hammock .jid bed secured. Several tons of hip.biscuit, and other necessaries, with all the papers and letters on board, were also lowered into tne boat. ** We now left the wreck, being about twenty-eight miles distant from Lichtenau, and about a league from the neighbouring headland of Nunarsuk, Our boat was heavily laden with men and baggage, and had al- ready taken in much water. The sea broke over us contmually, and the steersman fearing that the boat would sink, made for the nearest island. It proved to be a rough pointed and naked rock, deeply exca- vated in many places by the dashing of the breakers. After ascending to some height, however, we found a small spot covered with low grass. We now endeavoured to land our provisions, but the waves beat frightfully against the rock, and tossed the boat up and down so furiously, that she broke from her moorings, and was hurried out to sea. Eight men immediately pushed off in the small boat in the hope of recovering her. They succeeded in overtaking her, and four of them instantly leaped on board ; but the fury of the storm, which whirled the waves like smoke through the air, baffled all their efforts to regain the landing-place ; they were driven to the other side of tlie island amongst heaps of ice and foaming breakers, and we now beheld with horror, both our boats crushed to pieces ; nor did we entertain the least doubt that all the eight sailors had perished, as it appeared impossible that they could get over the ice to shore, while the wavesTose so high. All our hppes now vanished, and 2 ^HIPWItl'XK. iTjfH the whole company gave tliemselves up to loud cries and lamentations, seeing no other prospect than that of miserably perishing oy hunger on this naked rock. In the evening we lay down to rest, close together, without tent or covering. We were wet through, and lay in a pool of water ; for as it rained heavily and incessantly during the whole of this and the following day and night, the water flowed down in torrents from the sum- mit of the rock. " Aug. 26, we saw three n n walking on the shore, opposite to the spot where ^i e boats had been wrecked, and concluded that these v "' v only survivors of the party. They fixed the onl) liey had saved in the ground, as a signal, and tied a handkerchief to it. ** Aug. 27, the captains, their mates, and the greatest part of the crew, prepared to make an attempt to gain the shore, by walking across the ice. By leaping from piece to piece, and drawing them nearer when they were at too great a distance, with leather thongs and hooks, they, with the utmost difficulty, accom- plished their object. We would willingly nave ven- tured along with them ; but having fasted for two days, we were conscious that we could not bear the fatigues of such a journey. We were now alone on the rock, with the ship's cook, whom weakness likewise pre- vented from Tollowing his comrades. In this dreadful situation, our only hope and trust was in the Lord, our Almighty Saviour. We were comforted in believing that He watches over his children, and that without His will, not a hair of their head shall fall to the ground. Whenever the sun shone, we employed ourselves in drying the few things we had saved from the wreck ; but we were at last so enfeebled by hunger, that we were scarcely able to do even that, having nothing to support litis but fresh water, collected in the holes and crannies of the rock. All day long we looked out to- wards the opposite shores, in the hope of descrying the Greenlanders coming to our rescue ; but no Green- landers came, and we gave way to the dreadful suspi- cion, that Che ship's crew had perished on the road. The vol. II. T • • ' ■i\ V '. I,i m ■I M Ij IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) 1/ m£ * 1.0 1.1 11.25 tii |2^ |2.5 US Uii 12.2 140 2.0 m U 11.6 0% Ta 7. '^I"^/ 7 Ftaographic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80 (716)872-4503 UiQp^hts of ^^ding our liyeaon this.b^r^ rocl^, nQi} i}yi^g hfire unbiiriect to. glut the maw of ray^pa b»A se^fow], which vrexe constantly hpvering arouoii uat, aM seemed impatient for their prey, trpubledui fi^r a snort interval ; but the consohitions of our Saviour sup- pprted us, and we soon i^t entirely resigned to his willj "At length, on theSd o;f Sjeptemher, Sister Budo)ph happening to raise herself up from the hard couch on which they sought repose for their emaciated Umbs, espied two Greenlanders in their kajaks making to^ \^ards them, and hailing them. A new life instantly leemfd to animate their limbs ; they climbed to the summit of the rock, and shouted with all their, might to. make themselves heard. It appeared that these Greenlanders, who, according to promise, had been dispatched by the captain to bring theip qff, had been roving about the island the whole day, and seeing no person upon it, were just about to return, concluding that they were dead. From them our missiooarieis re- ceived a few herrings ; and some seals' fat, after being without food for nine days. But as th^ Qreenlanders h'ad no boat with them besides their kajak^ they were obliged. to remain upon the rock till the ^veninf of the next day, when a woman's, boat aiTiv^d for them. On the 4th they came to aa island where they found the greater part of the ship's crew, and the party who had been wrecked in the two boats, with the exception of one man. These latter had suffered extreme nard- ships, as was evident in their appearance; for they were quite emaciated, and had large red spots in their eyes. **They arrived at the colony qi' Julianshaab, on the 8^th, and after recruiting their strength, proceeded in a i^w days to Licktenau, where they were received with t6e most aiO^tionate welcome, and with heartfelt grati- tude to God, who had sp.wpndrously wrought out th^ir deliverance. Having remained here 'till th^. foU Iq^lhg May, they set out in a Greenland boat for JUich- ^/Isjs, where they arrived, a(^er a perilous voyage of* WANT OK PHOVISIOKS. ^9 four hundraii miles along the coasts in th^ end of Jiuie. "Btook henoe thay took ahspatiig for CopMihagen* atid hid a veiy eaiy and agrceaUe passage of only twenty dam" The misibnarieft had hitherto received regular anoiukl supplies of provisions and other necessaries from Den* nara, wkh^only one partial intierniptioii, M^hich served.to siwg[est to their friends in Europe the precaution of fiu^ niwing them with them with a year's store in advance. But iJ& war in which all the powers of Europe were iiow ikivolved, and the consequent rupture between Great Britain and Denmark, powerfully excited their appre- bensionsi and roused them, to the recollection of their preiparioua and dependent situation. One of two ships sent out in 1808, with supplier for these colonies^ by the benevolent permission of our government, waslest kii the ice '^ and the stores designed for them the next year could not be sent, as it was found inconvenient Uy fit out .vessels from this country to Greenland.. Another misfortune was the capture of a Danish pro- vision ship by an English frigate ; and thus only one small vessel arrived that year^ the cargo of which was by no. means sufficient to suf^ily the many factories on the coast The Danish government had indeed sent express orders that the mission-settlements of the Bre- thren should have a proportionate share of theprovi- stont, but it of course fell very far short of thein ^nts* Our missionaries at^New Hermhut Siud Licktcr^/hls, remark in their letters of ISOQ. that though they were> not yet destitute of the most necessar^r- articles, of sub- sistence» they had to measure out their provisions^ tor make them last as long as possible. Their stock of wine, was sp reduced, that they could rarely celebrate the/ Holy Communion^ which theyv mfuch regristted* Another very serious inconvenience was the want oil liaen^ and oi tobacco, which is the current coin a£tlia> country. But the distress was most severely feh at: LkhkmaUt,u appeaira from the following extracft dP a ^Mter written by^ the missionary/Beek in 1813^ T « ■i\ ■;'. r "I '..1 1 ■'% '.* if 1 I ■si'. 'i" ',5 ."ill I ^Q ilVSBli PRIVATIONS. ** In I8O7* we received the last regular supplies; This was sufficient, in addition to what we had spared )|x>m fbrmer years, to maintain us tor a considerable time $ and as we hoped that the interruption occasioned by the war would not last lone, we lelt no anxiety ; but when both the colonists and our Brethren at Nerv Hermhut and Lkhieftfels began to suffer, we even helped them out of our store, to various necessary arti- cles, of which, however, we afterwards felt the want. In the north, there was yet some trade, by which partifd relief was obtained ; but here, nothing could be bad &om that source. Yet we thanked God, that there still existed the means of supporting life, though we suffered many privations, such as of beer, coffee, sugar, and wine, and afterwards of butter and salt : we made the latter last as long as possible, by boiling our fish in salt water $ and though what Was sent to us in 1810, did not arrive here till 18 IS, we have to thank our Heavenly Father for having given us our daily bread. At last, we were the only people that had any tobacco. We had likewise some seeds left, and got a small supply of garden-stuff. The Greenlanders brought us scurvy- frass in exchange for tobacco. The latter article, owever, became at last so scarce, that a pound cost Some of the colonies had to endure still greater priv- ations, the inhabitants being reduced to the necessity of supporting life, by eating small herrings, muscles^ and even sea-weed. Many of them left the country, chiefly on this account. In this distressed condition, they continued till the year 1811, when the British government generously afforded the D**^* 'cs every facility for supplying their Greenland col( ., by permitting Danish vessels, fur- nished with ?« proper licence, to sail thither. This humane measure at once relieved them from their present suffering state, and from still more gloomy forebodings regarding the future. . • While this regulation continued in force,, the mis- sionary John Coflrad Kleinschmidt,. whose wife had XLEIN8CHMI0T COEf TO EUROPE^ t77 r recently departed this life, resolved, to bring four of His children to Europe, and in this view, left LkhtenfiU in an umiak, July 15th, 1812, the day on which, nine- teen years before, he had arrived in Greenland. <* The morning," he writes, in his journal, *< was uncommonly clear and beautiful. The sound of several wind-instru- ments, upon which some of our Greenlanders, stationed on an eminence near the shore, played various tunes, was heard by us to a considerable distance \ and while my mind was occupied, and somewhat oppressed by a variety of considerations relating to the difficulties I was in, and likely to encounter hereafter, I derived ffreat encouragement from the behaviour of my little daughter Catherine iiilizabeth, who afterwards departed this life, at Leith in Scotland. She seemed quite transported, and all day long sung Hallelujah, as if she was conmencing her pilgrimage towards heaven, and had a presentiment of what would be her happy lot, at the end of this voyage." JAfter a perilous voyage, they arrived on the 21st of the same month, at New Hermhut, whence they set sail, September 2d, in the Danish ship Freden, bound for Leith. Owing to unfavourable weather, they did not lose sight of the coast till the 25th^ when a fair wind sprung up, which carried them swifUy round Staatenhukt and gave hope of a speedy voyage. Sud- denly, however, a most tremendous storm arose from the north-west, which raged for three days and two nights without ceasing. On the evening of the 29th, when it was at its height, a flash of ligotning struck the ship, and threw down two sailors, one of whom instantly expired. All on board were filled with the utmost consternation, especially below deck, where no one could guess the cause of this terrible shock ; and the captain rushed out of the cabin, exclaiming, *< We are all lost, and there is no ship near to save us!" Our missionary, immediately turned to his poor terrified children, and said : *< We shall now altogether go home to our Saviour; we will therefore prepare ourselves to meet Him, and commend our souls to Him." Upon T S \ K^A I 1 \- TBJU9ICAL EVBNT* thidt they aUi>egan to weep aloud. Out said, "O yei» we will all go ito our Saviour, if He will receive us;** another, ** Let us return to lAckienfek, or go directly to £ngland ;" a tliird, *< We will pray to our' Saviour to help us." He comforted them, and represented to them the passage out of this world, as pleasantly as his painful feelings would allow him. It was, how- ever, soon discovei^d, that there was no appearance of fire in the ship, and no farther mischief was done, than the* breaking of a window in the cabin. But the cap- tain and the first mate, the latter of whom stood close to the two sailors at the time of the fatal accident^ w^tis so stunned, that for some days they were quite ill ; nor did the captain recover his spirits during the whole voyage. They had afterwards, agaiii to encounter hard gales and contrary winds, which so protracted the voyage, that they were put on short allowance of Water. But this pnvation lasted only five days, as they came in sight of the Scottish coast on the 8th of October, and two days afler, cast anchor in Leith roads. During their stay in this place, where they experienced the most friendly attentions from several worthy friends of the mission. Brother Kleinschmidt'ft daughter Catherine, onlv three years old, but a child of an uncommonly lively and affectionate spirit, died after a short illness. A most tragical ev6nt occurred in Greenland during his ab]^ence. A party of Christian Greenlanders, having celebrated Christmas at the settlement of LichtefiaUf were returning to one of the out-places, where they resided, according to an order of government, intended to promote the interests of trade. They set out in a skin-boat, ^r umiak, in January, 1813, when the theiv mbmeter was twelve degrees under Reaumer's freezing point. Before they had proceeded far, the floating loe encOunterered tFiem, closed upon them, and crushed their boat to pieces. The party escaped upon a large field of ice, and drove about for fbur-and-twenty hours, when, 4uring the night, a violent stm-m arose from the notth, which carried them out to sea. Here TRAKSLAtlON OF THE M£W TESTAMENT. ^^ t^ley nrasft all havie ^ennHeA, as Tibthiiig more was heard 6f them. Thev w^re kbventeeti in number, old and ^6ung, all baptized members of the congregation. After spending the winter at Fulneck, and marrying; zgaivtf firother Kleinschmidt and his wife, in company of the missionary Gorcki^^, his wife, and it^iknt d^ugnter^, aiid of Brother MUUer a^d Sister GoU, saUed from Lierth m the Hvalfisken, for Greenland. They left Scotland May 24th, 1813, knd after a safe and expe- ditious voyage of five weeks, arrived at Godhavn In Disko Bay, the captain, contrary to his engagement, , refusing to land them at any of the missionary settle- ments. This unfeeling conduct was the more repre- hiehsible, a$ there was eVerJr fkcility for landing them either at Lkhtenfels or Neko HerrnhuL Even the mate and sailors rbmonstrated With him dn the cruelty of nis behaviour, but in vain; for he continued his course night and day ; and all the reply he made, was, « Never mind, they have the summer before them.'^ Thie confseqtience was, that they had to travel back iu> a boat, coasting it all the Way, six hundred miles^ to New fferfTihut, and ninety more to Lichienfels ; and Brother Kleinschmidt and his wife had 6till to perform a vovage of nearly five hundred miles from thence to Licntenau, their place of residence. But, by the mercy of God, they all reached their destination before winter set In; though Brother Kleinschmidt's party were four months on their voyage along this rocky and dangerous cb^st. 0ne of the first cares of the missionaries, after their f^tu^h, Was to furnish a complete ti'auslation of the M6w Testament, into Greenlandic ; the Bible Societies, botb iti London and Edinburgh having kindly offered to |)Tiiit it for them. This important work was com- mitted to Brother Kleinschmidt, who, from his long r^siderice iii the country, had obtained a very com- ^ hotter Qorbk^ had livfed iti Gre^nlknti before, but hdd le^ it levetl yetLti itgo', to pay a visit to Europei wK^re he had been thui ' long detained^ in coniequehce of the war. The rtst were new ittit*^ «u>nai^ies. ■ T 4 ■ • < i- \ '.it,. !)l fc 1 iiii I €80 TfU WUfTKHS INCRBAfi: IN KEVEKITY. ^V patent knowledge of the Iflnguage ; and* to ensure the greatest decree of accuracy, the manuscript was sub- mitted to the revision of the other missionaries, in each settlement, who were best qualified for the task. This arrangement, however, concurred with other hindrances to delay the progress of the new version ; but we are happy to learn from the accounts of the last year, 1819t that the whole was finished, and. only waited another final revision, before it should be transmitted to Europe. Besides this, Brother Mentzel translated a small duodecimo work, ei^titled ^\ Jems, the Friend qf Children,** being a short com- pendium of the Bible, written for children, and recom- mended by a society of pious ministers in Denmark for distribution among the Greenlanders of both missions. . In November 1816, an adult heathen was baptized at New Hermhut, and as an interval of sixteen years had elapsed since the last transaction of the kind, it was at- tended with a more solemn impression on all the spectators. In the same place, the missionary, Henry Mehtzel, was suddenly called home to his eternal resjt', .October dlst, 1816. He had spent thirty-three years of his life in the active service of the Green- laud mission. . All the recent communications of our missionaries concur in stating, that the winters have of late in- creased in severity and duration, while the summers have become colder and more stormy, and the sup- plies of drifl-wood less and less abundant. The in- tercourse between the different settlements met with unusual obstruction, from the gathering of ice in all the inlets, and round the islands of the coast, which formed an impenetrable barrier for a great part of the year, and confined their excursions to very narrow limits. A marked difference was, however, obs|erved between the climates of New Hermhut and Lichtenau, that of the latter being warm in comparison. . In this place, the number of widows and orphans, destitute of every means of support, became so con- siderable, that the missionaries found it necessary to »l£LAMCUOLY ACClOJtMT. IBl solicit the benevolent assistance oi' their friends at home» in favour of their suffering Greenlanders. , A suppler of tobacco, which is the principal medium of traae in that country, was earnestly requested. In a letter of 1816, the missionary Klemschmidt thus de- scribes r^ome affecting circumstances of the distressed situation of his flock. ** Our poor Greenlanders had to endure a severe famine in spring, in consequence of the severity of the winter. It was a heavy time with us, as they directed their eyes to us in all distress, and we could not help them as we wished. The little children especially excited our pity, as they were less able to bear hunger than others, and besieged our house every day, begging for food. I bought 500 cod-fish, besides a quantity of herrines, and distributed them chiefly among the children. Many of our people were obliged to eat part of their tent-skms, for want of other sustenance. When our store was quite exhausted, ^ith what feelings did we gaze on the famishing crowd which surrounded us, unable as we were to procure food for so many in this wilderness ! But now the Lord's help appeared speedy and complete beyond our expec- tation. He heard our groanmg, and it seemed as though food rained from Heaven. The cold abated, and an uncommon number of seals came to the shore, so that some were daily caught, and carried home." We have the satisfaction to add, that in consequence of an appeal made by Mr. Montgoirery, to the British public, donations, amounting to upw ^ds of ISO/, in money, and several valuable parcels of needles, knives, iron hooks, &c., have been received. The money, converted into tobacco, was last year already trans- mitted, with the rest of the articles, for the relief of the widows and orphans of the three settlements, who felt and expressed the deepest gratitude for this seasonable supply. The letters of last year, which arrived unusually early, contained an account of a melancholy accident at Kan- gek ; a large number of Greenlanders having been seized witl^a yiolejnt and fatal illness, in consequence t' ( SI '-I T-^i: m 8KNTIMENTB OP THE MnsiONAMlES. 6f thdr eatitig df ^6 pUtriifiedbraini bf k wiliins, noleii than tl)irty-two persons were carried off bv the sick-^ ness which ensued, in a very short time. Tne Brethren had the pleasure td perceive that the greater part were able to rejoice in the prospect of theif dissolution, and iha:t those who had fallen into deviations, turned in their list hours, as true penitents, to the Savidur of 'sinpi^. The friends and neighbours of the deceased ieould not ht otherwise than deeply a£^ted by thii awful occurrence. Ouir Brethren themselves werd all in good health and ispiHt^ enjoying undisturbed peace with one another, lEind with thie geMtl^men of the Danish nlission, and happy iii the many perteptible proofs pf His presence, suhb, though uilseeh, dwells and reigns in the mid^t Cf his people. Though th^bkewarmness and indifib*. ence of some of the younger part of their flbck, espe- cially in the out-places, caused them ho small uneasi- hess^ yet they had in general rich cause to thank the Lord oui* Saviour, for thi^ honour which He put upon their testimony. The witness which they bore that, by His 'sufierings ahd death. He has niade an atonement for sin, and provided a ratisom by which mankind may be delivered from their thraldom, was received by the Greenlanders with thankfulness and joy ; and amidst all their weakness and insufficiency, this encouraged them to persevere, with zeal and fervour of spirit, in their blessed work. We could not desire a more affect- ing picture of the happy and peaceful life of the mission- aries and their flock, than that presented by the jfbl- lowing extract from a communication of Brother Gorcke oi JbkhtenfeU, ** During the Christmas holidays, and in thie ensuing sciason, an extraordinary Spirit of love and compunc- tioh cf heart was perceivable throughout the whole congregation, and it was evident^ both in old and young, that the Stiirit of God was leading theih, niore thah ever, into all truth. When we i^poke With them individually, their declatations and expressions w^te r^^tkably serious, and filled our hearts ^ith joy. 8CNT1MEMTI OF tMB lIlMIONARIfiS. «88 Oh the second Christmas holiday, a party of them came of their owti accord, and placing themselves before our house, began to sing hymns of praise and thanksgiving, accompanied b^ musical instruments. They did this with such devotion, that it affected us deeply, and none within the house could refrain flrom tears. Thecompany of singers seemed ouite enraptured ; and their voices were so sweet and harmonious^ that they appeared to us truly angelic, particularly dur- ing the mt vtsrse : — * Shoald ta«t 1 fbr ^IftdneM lotpi Led by Jeiut as his sheep ? For when these blest days are over, To the arms of my dear Saviour I shall be conveyed to rest* Amen 1 yea, my lot is blest I' ** It was to them, as they afterwards expressed them- selves, as if they dready stood before the throne of the Lamb, singing the new sons in praise of their re- demption by His blood. ** I hardly knew where I was,'?r said one of them \ ** I have often assisted at such so- lemnities before, but I never felt what I felt on this occasion. Surely our Saviour was present with us to- day ; we have, anew, made a total surrender of our hearts to Him, and he has graciously accepted them. O that we might show our thankfulness, keep the pro- mises we have made, and live more to his honour ! " Yes, my dear brother,** he continues, " how happy is such a life, spent among a flock of true children of God, and lovers of the Lord Jesus Christ, collected from among wild and barbarous heathen ! How willingly do we forego many outward advantages, enjoyed by those living in other countries, while we partake of the real blessedness of the house of God, in such a family of^ Jesus, who have been brought by the Spirit of God out of heathenish darkness, into the glorious light of His countenance ! I landed upon Greenland ground, thirty-seven years ago ; and gladly would I serve my Lord and Saviour, if He required and enabled M4 CONCLUSION. me 10 to do^ tbirty*8even ymn more, to have my there of the grece and merest which He tbut richly beitowt upon uiit congregation of converted. OreenUndert } and as my dear wi^ is entirely of the same mind with me^ we both wish to spend and to be spent in this happjr place." with such dispositions, our missionaries, though suffering th« pressure of far heavier afflictions than any they have to endure, might well console themselves with the sacred words of promise, <* He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing a precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing, orlnging his sheaves with him." hare towt this ugh ihan Ives )eth ball IVM 1 i APPENDIX. t i Js« /'i ■ ••"^, APPENDIX. 11 /tl Nmrative of the First Settlement made Ivthe United Brethren on I thf Coast qf Labrador, vaith a brUf- JHew <^- the Progress of the . Mission, . V.T a very early peripd» our raisuonaries were strongly iinp^esseid rith the opinion, that the natives of the opposite, coast of Davis's with the opinion, that the natives of the opposite Strait bore a near relationship to their own OreenlandcrSf The ihterestine but scanty noticen, which Ellis subsequently save of the inhabitants of the north side of Hudson's Bay, greatly ^ndecl to confirm them in this supposition. Th^r settlements in Qreen- Umd' were established in a prosperous state, and left them at^ leisure to look farther from nome. Here then was a new .an4' wholly unoccupied field of labour, for which ikeir knowledge o^ the language and other circumstances, gave them peculiar ad^! vantages.^ so that they considered themselves entitled, or rather bouna by no common obligation, to extend the blessings of the Gospel to these poor savages. Matthew Stach, the oldest Oreen- .land missionary, was extremely active in the promotion of this project, and in 1752 solicited the Hudson's Bay Company for^ perihission to preach the Gospel to the Indians belonging to their factories. His application proving fruitless, some bf the, Brethren in London, joined by several well-disposed merchant^ fitted out a vessel for a trading voyage on the coast of Lal^radpr.' Pour Brethren went out in her as missionaries, together with Christian Erhard, a Dutchman, who. having been engaged in tin? wM^ fi^he^ ip Disko Bay, had picked up some icnow'» le4ge of the Greenlandic, and had lately joined the Brethren's. ebundi. Tfatiy set sail i^ May 1752, and in July cast anch^ in ** Ittm bay oAth^ opast ptlabirador, to wh^f^they gaye ^ei^n^^ oTNisbet's Haven^'in l^ovir. of. one. ctdbe^owraerfrDt UMi,aii||ikL. iJ S ! l^^r] f88 APPENDIX. Here they determined to fix their residence, and erected their house which they had taken with ihem ready framed. £r- hard meanwhile proceeded with the ship farther to the north, for the purpose of trade. He found that he could make himself tolerably well understood by the Esquimaux; but as they were afraid to come on board on account of the guns, he suffered them to persuade him to land in a bay between the islands in an un- armed boat viith five of the crew« None of. them returned, and as the ship had not anotner best, no search could be made for them. The captain, havins waited several days without beine able to gather any information respecting their fate, sailed back ^ V V^ \to^|4isbet!8Lll&ven, and calling on board the missionaries, repre- y}^ sentedTto them, that after the loss of his boat and the best part of his men, he could not accomplish the voyage home without their assistance. Under such circumstances they could not refuse his reauest; but they lefl:. the place with r^ret, and consoled themselves with the thoughts of returning in the following year. On their arrival in England it was not deemed advisf»>le to renew the attempt, until intelligence should be received of the safety of Erhard and his companions; and as on the return of I \ the ship, several of their dead bodies were discovered, and thd deserted house was burnt to the ground, both the trade and the mission were for that time abandoned. In 1764, Jens Haven, who had laboured for several years as a missionary in Greenland, and had recently returned with Crantz to Germany, proposed to resume this enterprise. With this intention, he came to England, and was introduced by the Brethren in London to Hugh Palliser, esq. the governor of . Newfoundland, who freely offered him his support, and gave him the necessary letters of recommendation. * In May of the same year he arrived at St. John's ; but he had to meet with many vexatious delays, before he reached his destination, every ship with which he engaged refusing to land for fear of the Esquimaux. He w^ at length set on shore in Chateau Bay, on the southern coast m Labrador ; here, however, he found no signs of popula* tion, except several scattered tumuli, with the arrows and im- plements of the dead deposited near them. Embarking ajonin, he finally landed on the island of Quirpont or Quiveron, on the * i^he governor himself arriving shortly after at bis station, issued a pro- clamation in his favour, which reflects no less credit on his own judgment than on the disbterested zeal of our missionary. " Hitherto," he says, ** the Es- quimaux have been considered in no other light than ap thieves and muodenin ; but as llr. Haven has formed the laudable plan not only of uniting these poo>^ fie with the Bnglish nation, but of instructing them in the Christian religion; tequire, by virtue of die power delegiited to me, that all men, whomMerer it 9igr conctnv lend him all the airiitanoe in thdr power." " '^ AFwmwm m^ iiorth*calt eitrMiity of Ne#fowicU«iMl» w)i«re h* had the first istervl^ with the natives. "The 4th September," he writes in his journal, ** was the happ7 day when I saw an EMjuimavx arrive In the harbour. I fan to meet h'm, and odd'-eseed liim in Greenlandic He was astonished to hear his own language from the mouth of an European, and answered me in broken Frendi. I jrequested him to return and brin^ four of the cluefs of his tribe with him, as I wished to speak with them. Ke accordingly ran back with speed, shoutfnfjp out, < Our friend is come.' Meanwhile^ I put on my Oreenland Cventf and met them on the beadb. I told them* I had long d^ired to see them, and was glad to find them well. They replied, * Ttioa art indeed, i»r cottntfyjaanJ* The joy at this meeting was gi^eat on both sides. Alur the oonversatiofl had continued fur aume tinie^ they begged me to aocompanv them to an iHla'id about an hour's raw from the shore, adding, (hat thm'e I should find tlieir wives and cdiildren, who would receive me as a friend. By accepting this ofier, it was evident that 1 sltoafd pince myself completely in their power, but conceiving that it v»onld be of essential service to our Saviour's oauM^ lor me to become better acquainted with these savaores, I «imply turned to H«m, and said, I will go with them in Thy name. If they ki'l me, my work on earth is done, and I shaU live with Theej but if they spans my life^ I will firmly believe that it Is Thy will, that they should hear and believe the Gbspcd. The ftfeerMman and anotlier of die crew, landed me on the IslaBcl, but Inniediflte'y pushed off again, to see at a safe dibtancc what would become of me. I was presently eurrounded by the natives, each of them pushing forward his family to attract my notice. I warned them nc^ to steal any thingfiom our people and represented to them the danger of it Th^ told me that the Europeans were alao guilty of thieving, to whieh I replied, that if they would only inform' me of the i&linquent, he shouU be punished. ** The next day, eighteen of diem returned my visit, according to pronHse; I took this opportunity to assure them «f the friendly disposition of the British government towards them, and Momised that no injury should be dcme to them, if they Gcmducted themselves peaceably ; I also oflered them a written declaration to this efiect from Governor Pailiser; but they shrunk back, when I presented it to them, supposing k to be alive, nor could they by any means be p^ioiaded to accq>t ^< .\ ** In' thieirilNuitflri^ c q p c wm 'wMi the ciW, they ccmstituted me the arbiter of their diflferences; for, said they, you are our friend. They begged me to come again the next year, with some of my Brethren, and were oveijoyed when I promised that I would. I told them also, that re 'madie a second voyage in the ensuing year, accompanied by Christian Laurence JDrachart, formerly one of the Danish missionaries in Greenland, and two other Brethren. Having arrived at Newfoundland, they went on board his Majesty's ship, Niger, Captain Sir Thomas Adams, and landed July 17, in Cmiteau iby, lat. 52°, on the south coast of Labrador. Here the party separated ; Haven and Schlbtzer engaging with ano- ther vessel, to explore the coast northwards; they did not, how- ever, accomplish any thing material in this expedition, nor did th^ meet wjth a single Esquimaux the whole time. Drachart ana John Hill remained in Chateau Bay, and were fortunate enou^ to have the company of several hundred Esquimaux, for upwards of a month ; during which period they had daily op- pwtunities <^ intercourse. As soon as Sir Thomas Adams had received intelligence that th^ had pitched their tents at a place twenty miles distant, he sailed thilJier, to invite them, in the name of the Governor, to Pitt's harbour. On the approach of the ship, the savages in the kajaks hailed them with shouts of, Tout camerade, oui Hu! and the crew returned the same salutation. Mr, Drachart did not choose to join in the cry, but told Sir Thomas that he would converse with the natives in their own language. When the tu- APPENDIX. 2QI vavAt bad subsided, he took one of them by the hand, and said in Greenlandic, * We are friends.' The savage replied, * We are also thy friends.* Several ( f them were now admitted on board. A itian in a white woollen coat said that it had lieen given him by Johannesingoak, (Jens Haven,) as a keep«sake, and enquired where he was. They invited Drachart to go on shore, and. the elders of the tribe, followed by the whole horde, amounting to not less than three hundred persons, conducted him round the encampment from tent to tent, repeatedly exclaiming, " Fear npthii^, ; we are friends ; we understand thy words. Wherer fore art thou come?'* * I have words to you,' said he. , On this they led him to a green plot, and seated themselves round him on the grass. * I come,' he began, < from the Karaler in the east, where I had lately a tent, wife, children, and servants.' On hearing this, they cried out, ' These northern Karaler are bad people.' * I come not from the north,' returned he ; *but over the great sea,. from the eastern Karaler, of whom vou have perhaps heard nothing, as it is a very long time since they quit- ted this country. But they have heard of you, and Johannes- ingoak and 1 have visited you, to tell you that these Karaler are your friends, and believe on the Creator of all things, who is our Saviour, and that they wish you to know him too. They were much perplexed by this speech, which they made him re- peat oyer and over, until, at length, an old man copk upon him to explain its import. * He means Silla,' said he, and made several circles round his head with his hand, blowing at the same time with his mouth. ' Yes,' said Drachart, * he is Silla Pin- gortiteirsok, the Creator of the world. He has made the hea- ven,, the air, the earth, and man.' * But where is he?* enquired one; and * what is, the meaning of Me Saviour?* added a se- cond. Drachart using the same gesticulations which he had seen the old man make, replied, * He is every where in Silla; but he once became a man, and abode many years on earth to make men happy.' One of them now asked, if he was a teacher ; and when he replied, that he had taught the Karaler in the cast, two old men, with long beards, came forwards, ahd said that they were Angekoks. He took them by the hand, and placing them before Sir Thomas, informed them that he was the captain, and had been sent by a more powerful captain to enter into a friendship with them. Thus the conference concluded ; and Sir Thomas hastened back to Pitt's Harbour to make his report to the Governor. , But before we proceed to narrate the final establlshmen t of our missionaries on the coast of Labrador, it may not be unin- u 2 fill I'Si w I- 'lb APftBKDlX. ttreitliig t6 notice loiiie pMrfieuliute iegiatdina the exterhid fta^ tares of the country and its inbabitanta, which we collect from the descriptions of Hayen atid Drachart, who may justly be termed the first ezp^orei-s of this northern reaion. The peninsula of Lrbrador extends from lat ^2*, SO', to lat. 89^. But though its northern extremity, Cape Ghidley, lies un- der the same desree of latitude with Cape Farewell, the south- ehmioit point m OreenUind, the rigour of the climate even ex- iededs, if possible^ that of the latter country. This is no doubt owh^ to the vast tracts of land covered with snOw and ice^ or with unmense forests, lakes, and morasses, which impart a pro- digious severity to Uie norih, west, and south winds that blow iil Labrador; while on the other hand, their chilliness is miti- Sted, before they reach Greenland, by the intervention of ivi^s Strait. The south coast is inferior in fertility to the Isle of Quirpont ; but thie expansive volHes are enriched with vegetation ; and the bays are wooded with trees, fourteen inches in diameter. In his second voyage^ Haven foimd the islands in lat. S^ rocky and bari^ but the continent bore various sorts of pine, many of whose stems measured a foot and a half, in thidsness. He also found lattb, willow, aspen, birch, with many kinds of shrubs, some of which were unknown to him. All the quadrupeds of Gre^land, he continues, which I ooilld enumerate to the natives, ocist in Labrador, and in greaCN* numbers. I saw black bear and wolf skins ; but the greatest cmioi^iy was the hide of an animal wHich haunts the Green- land^rs in dieir dreams. Thev have the same name for it, the Afiuavk, and they tremble while they describe it. It is of a dark gr^ colour, about the size of a large dog. The air and the wa are stodced with all the species common io tite opposite side of the Strait; every inlet of the coast indeed swarms with shoals of the finest fishes, emecially cod. Sieals make tkrir appearance six or dght weeks later than in Green- hmd. ' In statur^ complexion, dressj and general habits, the natives ccnndde almost entirely with the kipdred branch of Karaler. The &ce is rather more round and fleshy. The dress of the women difiers in the length of the hinder flap, which reaches almost to the sround. They also wear boots so high that they reach above uie hips, and so wide that half a bushel of com na^t be poured into them with ease. Th^ are made of these dimensions for the purpose of carrying children; but the con- trivance is an awkward on^ and sawy spoils thdr gait, as the boots require holding up with both hands. ^ A£P£NDIX. 9i)3 The tent poles are fixed without the aid of any eiOM bean, ooyered with hairy ikins. Tlieir coaveniencet finr sittiiig and sleeping are still more rude than those of the Ghreenlanders, consisting merdy in fursi spread on the bore eround. Their fiirniture is poor, but cleanly. They use European kettles, but their waier tubs are made of whalebone^ and of an oval fiurm. Owing to their deficiency in tools, their hunting weapons are of a verv rough cast Besides the five darts of the Gfareenlander^ they have another which thev call uneakf barbed with three spikes, ten inches in length, used for struting birds. Their lujaKs are fi[t>m 80 to 22 feet long, and neaorly two feet broad. The pautik, or oar, is almost three ^t long^ but nar- rower than those of the Oreenkinders. They are very inex- pert in rowing and guiding their vessel, though fewer accidents CHQcur than in Greenland, perhi^ on account of the superi<» size of their boats. The language is essentially the same with die Oreenlandic, not Varying from it mora than the dialect spoken at IXdco and BaafslZtW differs from that of the southern colonies. Thus; Sovtaxjk.lm. NosT|nAin>. EaQvnuDZ. Kim I'M, KinalbUif Kena EdO, What is your name? Madbtk, Marluk, Maguk, two, Tikerai^ok, lion, Tehdarpo^ He visits. names, as well as nances of places, animal% and im- plements with which both nations have long been acquainted are the same. Only such objects as have more reooitly fidlen under their notice, are distinguished by different appellations, which are, howevor, in both languages, expressive of ute nature of the thing signified. Thus, the Greenlanders call a musket wimiut, something which propels ; the Esquimaux, puiusiut, a hollowed tube. They have adopted several French words into thdr convers- ation, which they repeat without knowing their meaning ; and the French have collected a score or two of words, which thsy use in trading with the savages, oonsistinff partly of corrupt Freadi, putfy of corrupt I^uimaux, and partly of unknown terms, probab^ borrowed from the Canadian savages ; e. g. kuttOf a knife (from couteau), memek, to drink, (from imek, water^ makimia, peac^ probably of Canadian origin. Like the Greenlanders, they consider themselves as the only civilized and virtuous nation in the world. When Mr. Dra- chart spoke of the depravity of all mankind, they would allqw this to be true only of Kablunat, or foreigners ; as for theni- u S ^4 .'I 'I li !' ,i| 894 APPENDIX. wives, they maintained that tbev were honest Karaler. ** Have you, then/* he asked^ " no wicked thoughts/' " No." "But when you think we will murder the Kablunat, and seize their boats and goods; are not these bad thoughts?" ** Yes»" ** Do you you not then wish to be freed from your wicked thoughts and deeds?" "We do not know." They wondered n^en they heard that the Greenlanders had' been washed from their sins in the blood of Jesus, and thought they must have been very bad people. And when he told them of eternal punish- ment, the^ agreed that the Kablunat, who did so many wicked things, might go to hell, but it was different with themselves, who were good Karaler. The notion of a Deity was not at all strange to them. " Thou speakest of Tomgarsuk," said they to Mr. Drachart, after he had been enlarging on the power and providence of Ood. On his putting the question, whether they believed that Tomgarsuk had made the world, and all things, they professed their entire ignorance of the matter. " But," said an Angekok, " Tarn- garsxik ajungflakj the great Spirit is good and holy." Another added, " tyitakangilak ; nothing is impossible to him." A third said, " Saimavok, he is gracious and merciful." For some time they listened with delight to the instructions of their new friends, but their interest in them soon subsided. The aversion which th^ afterwards showed to the mention of religious doctrines, arose from their flighty, changeable humour, and their stupidity, or rather incapacity to fix their attention on a subject quite foreign to them, and in which they could not dis- cover a single practical use. For the same reason, it cost Mr. Drachart infinite pains to make them comprehend the puiport of the governor's message to them ; indeed, he found, both in this instance, and when making enquiries relative to. the nature of the country, that the onfy possible way of gaining his end, was to propose every thing to them in the form of short questions; and, when they stole away to their tents, to follow them thither, and point out the individual objects, of which he was solicitous to gather information. It was with the utmost difficulty that they could be induced to visit the harbour where the ships lay. To Mr. Drachart's assurances of friendship, they replied, laughing, " Yes, yes, we know you will not kill us, for you are a teacher ;" and gave him their hands in token of amity. But when, after much per- suasion, they had accompanied him to the bay, they absolutely declined going on board the commodore's vessel, and landed on the shore. Whenever they were admonished to abstain from APPENDIX. «a5 doiDff any thing, their fittt question waf, " whether they would be kuled for it?" They would suflfer no one to examine their boats or utensils, or to take any draught of them. When a shalk^ came to their place of rendezvous, they would not allow the sailors to come on shore with their arms ; they even endea- voured to take the captain's gun, considering it as an infraction of the peece agreed upon, to carry weapons. An Indian, in at- tempting to cut away a tow from a wrecked ship, was perceived by the sentinel, who presented his mu8ket» and an alarm was instantly given. The savages drew their knives, and set them- selves in a posture of defence. One of them tore open his jacket, and bared his breast, daring the crew to fire; Order was, however, soon restored, and the Brethren led away the Indians to their tents. Another time, a cabin-boy jpurloined an arrow from a kajak. A woman betrayed the then. A concourse of natives instantly flocked round him, snatched the dart from his hand, and were on the point of sacrificing him to their rage. They were appeased by the promise that they should have satis- faction. The captain ordered the youth to be bound and floflged in their presence; but scarcely had he received two lasii^ when an angekok interfered, pushed back the sailor who was entrusted with the execution of the sentence, and unbound the culprit. Every one admired this instance of natural and humane feeling, thus unexpectedly Aeyeioped in savages, whose hearts were supposed to be as barbarous as their appearance was uncouth and forbidding. The governor wished to prevent them from crossii; •, over to Newfoundland, where, according to their own account, they procured a certain kind of wood not to be found in their country, of which they made their darts. But since they inter- preted this prohibition as a breach of peace, it was recinded, on their promise to commit no depredation on the fishing vessels they, might meet with on the way ; to which engngement they scrupulously adhered. They always evinced a most friendly disposition towards the Brethren, and welcomed Haven on his return, with the live- liest demonstrations of joy. Tliey repeated many particulars of what he had told them in the preceding year, and praised him for being true to his pro- mise. But though they showed no signs of a hostile intention, thev were inclined to take several troublesome freedoms with then: visitors. Thus, in one of their tents, Mr. Drachart had his pockets turned inside out. They took every thing they con- tained, and his hat into the bargain ; however, on his appealing to the seniors of the horde, they obliged the plunderers to re- u 4 fM il»M>0IX. fyM ihatlxioty, «vcte to h knife ivdich thty b«ggtd m a lMip> i«k^ Tht next xltht th« ro«^M packed hfs noc^set, th«y thought propef to do it d^cretty. dut no soona^ cm! the old men per- ceive thot he liod mlitocd something, than t*ie/ aMemb*^ ttXi the young iinragcs in the ho'Afe, and ori^ercd the avtides in quettion to hi re«tovGdi The t^ief immediutcly Hrenped forward^ nhb^ oatthelenvt Mfirksoftti^nmeor feai-f 'Tuere," seidhek **are yonf things ; you peihapr need them yoai'Se*r." In their froijuent ^luVnieM bacVwm'd aTtd CotwbtC, heineea the ctotiou of tl'e sVi^is and the £i.«t4iiroaiix, oar miMlonarke had to contend with formidflb^e obstaclei*) having freqaently to •jjpend several nigh;s to^x;:bcv s^cco^c^^i without a moilei «€ niod, and espotted, Ufdcr the open 0% to ide ra'a and wind. One dre&d(ul w^hi is thus descrilKx! in t'leir journal. '* jStpttolber lH* Jn the eventng, n v'olcnt tftorm, with rain, a^OS^ A shallop was driven to the ehore, and rcn a-groand on th^ rocks. By tne oflfer of an amp^e i-ewaid, we pei'suaded the sayage* to fend us their atwislance in b' ingiog U off. E'ght of them put on their sea-dress, waded into the water up to the ahn-pits, and toiled at it rpwards of an houv, without being abi*) to set it afloat Our ship, meanwhile^ wo -e away iVom the l^re^ and left ns alone with the naiive*. John Hill and the Mn*t surgeon engaged to follow the vessel in a small boat, and ittai:6 some arran^iements with the captain tor their safety ; but their boat was dashed against the ship's side by the waves, with so violent a concussion, '^at it o/enet. Fortunately they causht hold of a rope which hung over the side of the vessel, to which they clnn^ until those on boai'd could draw them them up. Drachart and Haven now betook themsehea to the stranded shallop) but they were destitute of provisions, and the rain feH in torrents. The Esqtiimeu?^ came and M^tiMetited to us, that the boat cotrid not possibly float before the tide returned in the morning, and invited ns to lodge for the night in thcnr tents. We judged this to be the most eligible plan we could todopt in Otir present situation. Immediately, the angekok S^llia plan|fed into the waier, and earned us on his back to the beach. He then led us to his tent, gave us dry clothes, and iipthtA a skin on the floor for us to sit on. The tent was tik^bWded with people. They several times asked us * if we were not afi-aSd t* we answered, * We are ceitainly ignorant of what passes in your minds, but you are our friends, and fiiends do iiot use to fbar eadi other.' To this they rejoined, * We are Mdd Kttr^der, and are now convinced that you are not Kab- inntft, but weU-dJspot(ed Innuit, for ymt comie to na without WiKfpbMk t%6y Mk iMslbre OS fish, water) and bread, w4iich i/ Awnxmn, m IMC uM o^an ||i?tn than b^ the tailor^ nd iltortljr attm, all retired to rest. But SeoiiMia aow commenced hk incantadoiM^ whiA he bc^n wiih •mflttig some unintelUgiUe itatna% to> gather with his witm. Im then muttered over tome cliann» threw himself into ever^ ima^'neble corlortion of bodj^ at tioaaa sending foith a dieadiul shriek, held his band over Drachart't fiioe» who laj nert to him ; and rolled about on the aroood^ utterintt at intervals loud, bi't only half articukte cries, me time as still as death, after which he again began to whine and moan, and at last to sin^ We said we woiild sing someiihing Letter, and repeated many Oreenlandio verses, or which, however, they oOuM comprdiend but veiy Hu'e. It was in vain that we endeavoured to compose ouriwlvcs to sleep for the rest of the night { we, therefore, frf quently ai-oste and went out of the tent; but S^gu^iia iq|>peared to view ont motions witU suspicion, ard always fdlowed us when we Mb the terl. In the morning he thus addressed us : ' You may now teU yoar countrymen that you have lodged with me in safety. Yoj are the first Europeans who ever went m night under my tent. You have shown m^ by your rearlesa benaviour amongst us, thot we have nothing to (fread from you.' In return for our eccommodaiiona, we distributed glass beadi^ fishhooks, and needles, amongst his people." A letter of Haven to ope of his friends contains u short memdr of a young Esquimau^ named Kaipik, which is too interesting to be omitted. During the interval which occurred, between the visit of Haven and Drachart, in 1765, and the foundation of a mis- sionary settlement in Labrador, the old quan-els between the natives and the English traders were roiewed; and as no one was present who coiud act as interpreter, and e3q)lain the mutual grounds of difference^ theafiair terminated in bloodshed. Nearly twenty of the natives were killed in the fray, among whom waa KarpUc's fiither; hehimsd^ with anuthw boy, and seven femalciy were taken prisoners, and carried to Ne^oundland. One of these women, of the name of Mikok, and her son, were broittht to England, where they recognised en acquaintance in Mr. Haven, who had formerly sl^t a night in their tent. Kwr- pik was detained by Governor Palliser, wiUi the intention of committing him to the care of Mr. Haven, to be trained up fer usefulness in a future mission to his countrymen. He did not f98 AVFENDIX. mnvn in Englimd till 1760, at which time he watt about fiilecn years old. On Mr. Haven't first visits to him, he appeared averse to livinff under his care ; but his affections were soon sained by the benevolent attentions of his friend, and he willingly con- sented to accompanv him to his residence. Here his natural wildness showed itselr without restraint; nor was his guardian at all solicitous to impose a premature check upon the sallies of an undisdolined imagination, but sought, on every opportunity, to touch nis heart. That, however, was of a stony hardness. Being told that the areat Ood and Creator of all things, wishra to make him happy, he appeared to wonder at tnc assertton, but replied, without the least emotion, * That is right, for I am a good creature.' His chief failings were pride and obstinacy. It had been the first concern of Mr. Haven, to have him freed from the scurf which he had contracted, and decently clothed, for which the little savage testified the deepest gratitude. But in a few days after, he conceived a sudden passion for a hat and coat embroidered with gold. It was in vain to remonstrate that this finery would be of no use to him, and that he ought to employ bis thoughts in learning to know the Lord, who dwells in Heaven. * Poor clothes,' replied he, * will not teach me that ; my countrymen, who are clad meanly enough, die and know nothing of the God in Heaven, of whom you say so much. The king wears fine clothes, why, then, should not I ? I can still become acquainted with God and love him.' Mr. Haven answered, that he ought to be contented with his coat, if it only kept him warm, anathat he had no money to procure him a gaudy dress. * Then go to the king,' rejoined Karpik, * and get some money from him.' * Well,' replied his guar- dian, * we will go to him this minute ; but if the king enquires, what has Karpik learned ? can he read and write ? is he ac- quainted with the God in Heaven ? and I am forced to answer he has learned nothing ; the king will say, take him on board the man of war, there let him serve my officer, and clean shoes for seven years, until he has learned something; you know how those youUis are treated 1' This address produced an immediate effect ; he clung round Mr. Haven, and pro- mised to stay with him, and be obedient. * ^ Mr. Haven still found his patience frequently put to the test by repeated instances of this capricious humour, until at the end of three weeks a change became visible. Karpik grew througbt- ful, and took great interest in reUgious instruction. But tlic ; ., ■ -r APPENDIX. «90 natural enmity of the heart against God aUo seemed to be more powerfullv excited. Thus, on one occasion, he uttered several reproachnil expressions against the Supreme Bcintf, snatched Uie Bible out of the hand of his <^ardian, and would nave torn it in pieces and put it in thr fire ; beenuae, as he alleged, it was writ« ten by a spirit. His restlessness and distraction went so fiur, that he wished to (lit an end to his existence. He frequently exclaimed : * I am At for nothing, for I am a miserable crea- ture.* Still he had no desire to leave his preMOt situation ; and when the Esquimaux woman importunea him to return with her to Labrador, he steadily persisted in a refusal. This cir- cumstance encouraged Mr. Haven to pursue his benevolent un- dertaking with new vigour. Karpik was by no means defioieni in mental endowments, and he secured the love of all who were connected with him, by his amiable compassionate disposition. The miserable objects he met with in the streets strongly ex- cited his sympathy. * When he saw my countenance clouded with sorrow,' says Mr. Haven, * he would hold up a looking- glass to my face, and ask in a soothing tone, what ailed mo? and when I sometimes replied, * I am troubled on your account, because you are still ignorant of vour Creator,' he would beg me to have patience with him, and promise to use his utmost diligence in acquiring the knowledge of Him.' In the summer of the same year, Mr. Haven being called away bv other engagements to Germany, placed his young charge m the school of the Brethren at Fulneck in Yorkshire, reco .ncnding him more particularly to the tutebge of Mr. Drachart, who was at that time resident there. After the first regrets of parting with his kind friend, Karpik soon became re^ conciled to the change of situation, and wat> much pleased wiUi I lis new companions, to whom he looked up with a sort of respect. Tie soon acquired considerable proficiency in reading and writ- Mg. The religious instructions which he received, also made a deep impression upon his mind, as was evident from two letters which he wrote to Mr. Haven. But while his friends were in- dulging the animating hope of seeing him extensively usefiil in spreading the word of life among his benighted countrymen, he was fatally, alas ! attacked by that dreadful disorder, the small pox^ which, in spite of the best medical assistance, carried him off on the twelfth day. Some of his lost expressions were : < O Jesus i I come to Thee ; I have no where else to go ; I am a poor sinner, but Thou hast died for me. Have mercy upon me for the sake of Thy wounds and death. I cast myself en- tirely upon Thee.' The day before his departure, he was bap- 5 ' I) ■' « & I aoo APPENDIX. tiled ill Oreenlandic at his own request, and on the 4th October God took his ransomed spirit to its eternal home. But we return to the history of the mission. The prqiaratory vistis of Haven and Drachart cleared the way for the ultimate settlement of a mission of the Brethren at Nain in 1771) a grant of the land necessary for the purpose having been obtained frmn the Privy Council, and formally purchased by the mission- aries from the Esquimaux, who testified the highest gratification at the proceeding. Besides the two missionaries above-men- tioned, were two married couples, and seven single Brethren, the whole company consisting of fourteen persons. Having taken with them the frame of a house, thev immediately bc^n to erect it, and, with the assistance of the sailors, completed it in less than two months. A company of Brethren in London, united to send a ship annually to Labrador to supply them with the necessaries of life, and to carry on some trade with the natives. The mis- sionaries also found means to be of service to the Esquimaux, acd to earn something for tbeir own subsistence, by building them boats, and making t6ols and other utensils. Some hundreds of Esquimaux, priDcipcUy of the Nuenguak tribe, attended the pi'eacbfng of the Gospel curing the summer months, but on the approach of winter they withdrew to various parts of the coast. ' Ttiough they were^ for the most part, very willing to be instructed, no lasting impression appeared to be made on their minds. The missionaries were therefore agi'ee- ably surprised by the intelligence, that Anauke, one of these savages, being on his death-bed in the beginning of 1773, had ^ken of Jesus as the Redeemer and Saviour of men, had con- stantly prayed to him, and departed in confident reliance on his salvation. ** Be comforted," said he to his wife^ who began to howl and shriek like the rest of the heathens, at his approach- ing end, ** I am going to the Saviour." The Brethren had been prevented from visiting him during his illness by the in- clemency of the weather ; but his happy dissolution had a far vourable influence on his countrymen, who ever after spoke of him under the appellation of, " The man whom the Saviour took to himself." As this settlement was found insufficient to serve as a gather- ing place for the Esquimaux dispersed along a line of coast not less than six hundred miles in extent, especially as it afibrded but scanty resources to the natives during the winter season, when they had fewer inducements to rove n'om place to place, it was determined to establish two other mission stations, the one to the north and the other to the south of Nain, Accord- APPENDIX. 301 inglv, in 17t4, four of the missionariei undertook a voyage to explore the coast to the northward. Thouf^ they attained th«r object, the consequences of this expedition were mOst unfortu- nate. On their return, the vessel t>truck on a rock, where she remained fi::ed till her timbpv« we e dashed to pieces. After a night of the uiimost aniMe'iv, tliey betook themselves early the next morning to their Imt; but this also foimtlered on the craggy shore. Two of ihem, tic Breiihren Brasen and Leb- roann, lost their lives ; the other two. Haven and Lister, toge- ther with the sailors, saved ihem. they had to cross a lak^fty miles long and abont one i*^" )*^'.-/'.«..w. fy^''-j.t' ^-^Mj Ol,-yyy I'U /'.^A -»-<.. ^'^.^t'^'^ (>' n APPIfiTDIX. 307 not re- replied, 11 their He was ty pre- that it ng the joined iial de- litioiis, luimaux of the lout one JUile broadj with high moumMaousshgciM. The deer rove in lieridr round the banks^l^^iiiiaerous smdller lakes; into tlhese 'tliey are driven by the Esquimaux, who then pursue them in .thrd such plenty of salmonr trout, that the missionaries at Nain have, in favourable years, taken 5000 in the space of a week. The land furnishes a va- riety of fowl, hares, and rein-deer, which are sometimes found in great numbers in the interior, and the Esquimaux have killed 300 in a single hunt. Yet these supplies are so preca- rious, and so badly husbanded by this unthrifty race, that they are not unfrequently reduced to the greatest straits in winter. Towards the end of 1 795, for instance, a great scarcity of pro- visions was experienced in Nainy and five of the Esquimaux were obliged to set out in sledges to fetch the deer which they had killed in the summer, and deposited under stones. In this journey, which occupied a week, they could not have travelled x 3 I •i aio APPBMOIX. loM thAn 900 miles, with no other kustenance than raw meat and cold water. ' In August, 1799, tiie missionaries at Nam were surprised by a visit from a native of the most northern port of the cpast, for which they were indebted to a wonderful accident. He bad oone out on the ice in the Januiary of 1 797« with three companions, to hunt seals ; but they were driven out to sea, with the frag- ment on which they stood, by a strong wind, till they lost sight of land. They must, if their reckoning was correct, have spent ■ four months on thl.s floating voyage, during which time they subsisted on raw seals, which they caught in great numbers, and were at length carried to shore in a distant part of the south. The simple and confidential manner of this Northlander favour- ably distinguished him from his southern countrymen. Amidst the discouraging lukewarmness and deadness which prevailed amongst many members of their flock, and the open deviations of several who had already been baptized, the Bre- thren had the pleasure to perceive that on som<} hearts the Word of Atonement had taken its natural effect, prod!.\<;ing a thorough change of conduct and sentiment, and in the hour of parting nBture affoi'ding tbe true believer a. firm ground of faith and hope* Amongst the foremost of this class was the widow Esther, who departed, at Okkaki in 1792. Being at Nain, on a vbit with her parents, she beard of Jesus a& her Creator and Re- deemer, and, thoi^h quite a child, she retained a deep impres- sion of these saving truths. It l.' laid down his life for my ransom, and He will keep his pur chase.*' She died in her thirtieth year. About the same time, the missionaries had the pleasure to wit- ness the conversion of Tuglavina, a noted Esquimaux, who, with his wife Mikkak, had rendered great assistance to them in their first settlement in Labrador. By his strength, courage, and penetration, combined with the reputation of a potent wizard, ne had acquired an unbounded iunuence over his weaker coun- tfrymen, and his word passed for law. He had committed many murders with his own hands, and was accessary to many more ; for if any one had incurred his resentment, he had only to de- clare that the torngak had decreed his death, and a multitude of hands were instantly raised to seal the doom. But in the progress of years, when his bodily vigour began to decline, his extraordinary ascendency, which rested entirely upon his per- sonal qualities, declined with it, according to the common fate of savage chieftains. His friends of his own standing were continually dropping; oiF, while those who inherited the wronos done to their murdered or insulted kinsmen, were strong m youth and numbers. Tuglavina was reduced to poverty ; of his numerous wives, some deserted him in the wane of bis fortunes, others were violently taken from him, without his daring to make resistance ; and only one of them all remained. In these depressed circumstances, he could no longer repress those pangs of compunction and remorse by which he was assailed. On the first arrival of the Brethren in the country, he had been con- vinced by their testimony, that he was a guilty and miserable np.an, exposed to inevitable destruction, if he persisted in his career ; bi^t he still found means to soothe the secret voice of conscience. Now, however, he declared his resolution to change his life, that he might seek forgiveness for his crimes, of which he made a free disclosure to the missionaries, and find rest for his soul. On his pressing request, he was permitted to reside with his family in Nain ; and, though his pride led him at first into temporary aberrations from the right path, he gave such proofs of sincerity, that he was received into the congregation on Christmas-day, 1793* He had been baptized in Chateau Bay by a Presbyterian n^inister, during a dangerous illness. After his admission to the holy communion, he made visible progress in humility and all other Christian graces, and showed great anxiety for the conversion of his heathen country- X 4 I Slit APFENDIXi men, to which he contributed all in hit power. Yet he once more lufibred high thoughts to seduce him into such gross im- pro))rieties that it was necessary to exclude him for n time from the Lord's table, until he came to a due sense of hi|i miscon- duct. He died in 1798, after a short illness, at the age of sixty years. One of the objects of the establishment at Hopedale had been to promote an intercourse with the Red Indians who lived in the interior, and sometimes approached in small parties to the coast. ^ A mutual reserve subsistea between them and the Esquimaux, i and the latter fled in the greatest trepidation, when they disco- I vered any traces of them in their neighbourhood. In 1790, however, much of this coldness was removed, when several fami- ly L lies of these Indians came to Kijtpokakf an Eui'opean factory / l> )^^ ^ about twenty miles distant from Hopedale, In April, 1799, the \'*'\ missionaries conversed with two of them, a father and son, who came to Hopedale to buy tobacco. It appeared that they were attached to the service of some Canadians in the southern set- tlements, as well as many others of their tribe, and had been baptized by the French priests. They evidently regarded the Esquimaux with alarm, though they endeavoured to conceal their suspicions, excusing themselves from lodging in their tent, on account of their uncleanly habits. At parting, they assured the Brethren that they would in future receive frequent visits from their countrymen ; but this has not as yet been tne case. In 1800, a most melancholy accident occurred at the settle- ment just mentioned. The missionary Reiman, having gone out alone on the 2d of December to shoot partridges, returned no more, having probably lost his life by the ice breaking under . him. As the weather was remarkably fine, the Brethren and Esquimaux persevered in their search for him nine days, but all to no purpose; for though his footsteps were seen in several places on the snow, they were lost again on the ice, nor were his remains ever discovered. Towards the close of ISO^, the indifferent success which had hitherto attended the labours of the missionaries, owing to causes which have already been mentioned, the roving dispositions of the natives, their lurking unbelief manifested by their addiction to superstitious practices, particularly in cases of illness, and the absence of a vital principle of godliness amongst those even who led a moral and decent life, was succeeded by a new and a brighter period. ' A fire from the Lord was kindled at Hopedale^ the very place which before presented the greatest discourage^ ments, and spread from thence to the other two settlements. APPIVDIX. 813 ' When the Esquimaux of this colligation returned from their lummer excursions, our missionaries were delighted to ftnd that thev had not only been preserved from sinful practices, but had maae considerable progress in the knowledj^ of the truth. They had attained a deeper insight into the natural depravity of their hearts, and the wretched state of a person void of faith in Christ. This constrained them to cry to Him for mercy ; and there was reason to believe that some, at least, had found for- giveness of their sins in His blood, by which their hearts were hlled with joy and comfort in believing. Out of the abundance of the heart, their mouths spake of the love and power of Jesus; and their energetic declarations made a serious impression on the rest of the inhabitants. They began to see the necessity of true conversion; and earnestly sought for peace with Uod. Even several of the children were similarly affected. The mis- sionaries received daily visits from their people, who either eame to enquire, what they must do to be saved ; or to testify of the grace of God, which they had already experienced. While this heavenly flame was ix\ mil blaze at Hopedale, two Esquimaux, Siksigak and Kapik, arrived there from Nairu The former of them brought his wife with him whom he had married from thence two years before, intending to return her to her mother, and take another who promised to second him in every heathenish abomination, and to leave the Christian Esquimaux altogether. On entering his own mother's house, who likewise lived at Hopedale, he round the family engased in evening prayer. They went on without being disturbed by his arrival ; and he sat down quite astonished at what he saw and heard, not knowing what they were doing. On his informing them of the purport of his visit, the whole company began to entreat him most earnestly not to part from his wife, but rather to turn with his whole heart to Jesus. The missionaries too, added their exhortations to the same effect, but he persisted in his determination. His relations, perceiving that he was im- movablv fixed, resorted to prayer. The following day they all assembled in his mother's house, and in his presence, joined in fervent supplications for his conversion. His mother, amongst the rest, uttered the following petition : " O my Lord Jesu» ! behold, this is my child ; I now give him up to Thee ; Oh, ac- cept of him, and suffer him not to be lost for ever 1" This scene, so unprecedented and unexpected, hod an instantaneous effect on the young man ; he was filled with concern for his sal- vation ; his whole heart seemed changed ; he desisted from his wicked purpose, took back his wifci and became an humble en- quirer after the truth, to whom the Lord afterwards showed • i .!l ( l\ III 1 314 APPENDIX. great mercy. His corapanicn, Kapik, was ako ij>o.werfuUy awakened by the instrumentalitv of his relations. On their return to Nainj these two men, with energy and boldness, preached Jesus to their countrymen. Some of their friends heard them with astonishment, others mocked arid hated them ; but the impression on the rest of the inhabitants was a pleasing and permanent one. " We saw several of our people," say the missionaries, " yielding by degrees to conviction, and b^inning to doubt whether their Christianity was of the right kind, and whether they had not been deceiving themselves and others. They came and voluntarily confessed their sins, some with many tears, and in a manner of which we had no instances before. The more they reflected on their former life, the more deeply were they convinced of the treachery of their hearts ; they wept on account of the deceit they had so often practised, and con- fessed to us things of which we could have formed no conception.. Though we could not but feel pain on account of their former hypocrisy, our grief was balanced by the jov we felt at the amazing power of our Saviour's grace, by which their hearts were thus broken and softened. Our drooping faith and cou- rage revived, and we saw clearly that with God nothing is The news of these events was carried to Okkak by visitors from Nain, and was accompanied with th^ same happy effects. Many of the heathen who lived in the neighbourhood, were so astonished at these occurrences among their believing country- men, that they resolved to move to one or other of the settle- ments. Even the northern Esquimaux, who passed through the place on their trading excursions, were struck with admiration on beholding this genuine work of God. They came frequently to converse with the missionaries, listened to the Gospel with uncommon attention, and m.ost of them expressed their earnest wish to become acquainted with Jesus ps their Saviour. They expressed their regret that they lived at so great a distance, and could not well forsake their native country, but said that if the missionaries would come to them they would gladly receive instruction. The subsequent years of the mission proved that this awakening was not the momentary blaze of a meteor, scarce seen before it is extinguished, but a divine flame emanating from the Spirit of God, a^d kept alive by His gracious influences. The labours of the missionaries became from this time comparatively light, for their instructions were no longer listened to as a task, out received with avidity by willing hearers ; the schools were dili- gently frequented both by old and young ; and their regular and \ u AP^EMDIX. 315 devout attendance on pnblic worship, showed that they considered it no less ae a pleasure than a duty. The following is one of many similar representations given by our Brethren of the conduct of their flock. " We have cause to rejoice," they write in their journal of 1812, ** that we know, among our people, many who have fonnd remission of their sins in the blood of Jesus. There are indeed exceptions, but we can truly say, that among the very considerable number of Esquimaux who live with us, we know of few who are not seriously desirous to profit by what they hear, and to experience and enjoy themselves, that which they see their countrymen possess. Our communicants give us pleasure, for it is the wish of their very hearts to live unto the Lord ; and their conduct affords proofs of the sincerity of their professions. Thus, for example, Esquimaux sisters, who have no boat of their own, venture across bays some miles in breadth, sitting behind their husbands on their narrow kajaks, in order to be present at the Holy Sacrament, though at the peril of their lives. The baptized and candidates for baptism also de- clare, whenever they have an opportunity of speaking privately with us, that they seek satisfaction in nothing but in living to Jesus, and that their favourite occupation, in leisure hours, con- sists in singing hymns and reading the Gospels which hiVe been printed for their benefit. Their Christian deportment has this natural consequence, that their neighbours who have not yet joined us, are inspired with a desire to become equally happy, and contented. Our young people are a constant subject of our most earnest supplication unto the Lord, that He would reveal Himself to their hearts ; nor are there wanting instances ^nongst them of the efficacy of divine grace. All these blesssings, which we can only briefly touch upon, call for our sincerest grati- tude unto the Lord; we devote ourselves most willingly to His service ; and if we may be permitted to bring but one stone to the building up of His earthly Jerusalem, how great will be our joy!" We might detail many pleasing incidents to illustrate and confirm this statement, but it would swell our sketch to a size inconsistent with the brevity of our proposed plan. We shall, therefore, content ourselves with a concise notice of the few pro- minent events which distinguish the remaining period of our history. In 18 11 the inhabitants oi Hopedale were attacked by one of those pestilential disorders which have so often desolated these northern coasts. The missionaries give the following account of it : " Our Esquimaux were for a long time preserved firom *any particular illnesses, except that they were subject to a species of W 316 APPENDIX. eruption and boils, which, however, though painful and unplea- sant, were rather beneficial to their general health. But on the 24th of July, as a boat filled with our people was leaving Tikke^ rarsuk^ one of their provision-places, to return to Hqpe^ale, se- ■ veral of them, one after the other, were seized with a nervous and paralytic disorder of a most dangerous and deadly nature, insomuch that during the next eight days, thirteen of them de- parted this life, of whom seven were communicants. Three of them were fishing in perfect health in the morning, and in the evening lay as corpses in the boat. Above thirty were taken ill, and some brought to the brink of the grave ; but now, thank God, the greater number have recovered, though a few are still very weak. As late as the 12th September, we buried an old communicant, called Luke. Terror and dismay seized the people, but we confidently believe that those who departed this life are now in the presence of Him whom they had known here as their Saviour, and to whose holy will they expressed full resignation. ^* By this afilicting dispensation we have now a considerable number of widows and orphans depending entirely upon charity, and we cannot withhold from them occasional assistance. We ^ often commend ^hem in prayer to the Father of the Fatherless, who will in mercy regard their wants." As early as the year 1800, our missionaries learned from the reports of Northlanders, who visited their settlements, that the main seat of the nation was on the coast and islands of the north, beyond Cape Ctmdleigh, and anxiously desired an opportunity of carrying the Gospel into that quarter. On asking their visi- tors whether it would be agreeable to them to have a mission established in their country, they assured the Brethren that it would give them the greatest pleasure. ** The whole land," they said, " would welcome, them with one loud shout of re- joicing." Preparations were made by two of the Brethren in 1800, for a coasting voyage to explore the country in that di- rection, but their plan was frustrated by unfavourable winds and weather. This project, however, though suspended for a time, was not abandoned; and in 1811, the missionaries were authorized to fit out another expedition for the same purpose. The Brethren Kohlmeister and Kmock, cheerfully engaged in this difficult and perilous enterprise, lor which they both possessed eminent quali- fications. Having engaged a Christian Esquimaux from Hope-' dale^ as a steersman, with his two-masted shallop, they embarked at Okkak on the 23d of June, accompanied by four Esquimaux &milies, besides that of their guide, amounting in all to nineteen APPENDIX. S17 persons. Afler encountering various dangers from the ice in their passage up the coast, which had never before been navi- gated by an European, they doubled Cape Chudleigh, and on the 7th of August, came to anchor at the mouth of the Kangertlukaoak, or George River, in the Ungava country, lying 140 miles S. S. W. of the Cape, in lat. 58° ST north. Here they staid some days, pitching their tents on a green slope, overgrown with shrubs, and flanked by a woody valley, which possessed every advantage for a missionary station. A sail of six days brought them to the mouth of the Koksoak^ or South River, ^8" 36' north latitude. It is six or seven hundred miles distant from Okkak^ and its estuary about as broad as the Thames at Gravesend. Some way up the river, they arrived at a well watered and fertile plain, half a mile in extent, which they also considered as well adapted for a settlement. Being satisfied from the accounts of the natives that there were no other eligible places farther to the west, they now returned homewards, and reached Okkak in safety on the 4th of October, after an absence of fourteen weeks, having performed a voyage of from twelve to thirteen hundred miles. * We are sorry to say that no further steps have yet been taken towards the establishment of a fourth settlement in Ungava^ a delay which has arisen partly from the distresses occasioned by the late continental war, and partly from the following untoward accident. '* October 28tli, 1816," writes the narrator, " the Jemima arrived in the Thames from Labrador, after one of the most dangerous and fatiguing passages ever known. The ship arrived at the drift-ice, on the Labrador coast, on the 1 6th of July. Captain Fraser found it extending two hundred miles from the land ; and after attempting to get in, first at Hopedaki then at ATam, and lastly at Okkak^ he was at length completely surrounded by ice, and in the most imminent danger during six days and nights, expecting every moment that the ship would be crushed in pieces, till, after very great exertions, he got towards the outer part of the ice. Nevertheless, he was beset by it for forty-nine days, and did not reach Okkak till August 29th. The very next day the whole coast, as far as the eye could reach, was entirely choked up with ice ; and after lying at Okkak nearly three weeks, he was twice forced back by it on his passage to Nairif which place he did not reach till Septem- * We forbear giving a more detailed account of this interesting voj'age, as the particulars are already before the public, in a small work intitled Journal of a Voyage from Okkak, in Labrador, to Ungava Bay ; edited by the Rev. C. I. Latrobe. 318 APPENDIX. ber 22d. After staying the usual time, Captain Fraaer i^o- needed, October 3d, to Hopedale,- but Uiough the weather was fine, the lateness of the season, and the large quantities of drift* ice, left him little hope of reaching that settlement. I{e men- tioned this opinion to the Brethren at Nain. However, Brother Kihock and his wife, and the two single Brethren, Korner land Christensen, who were going to Hopedale^ went on board, and they set sail. But the same evening it began to blow extremely hard, with an immense fall of snow, and very thick weather, so that they could not see the length of the ship, and being within half a mile of a dangerous reef of rocks, they were obliged to carry a press of sail to clear them, which they did bit; just accomplish ; for the gale afterwards increased to such a degree, the wind being right on shore, that they could not carry sail any longer, and were obliged to lay the ship to, the sea often break- ing over her ; and the captain was at length necessitated to bear laway for England, October 5th. He again experienced a gale equal to a hurricane, from the 8th to the 10th of October, which twas so violent during the night of the 9th, that the captain momently expected the ship's foundering. She was at one time istFUok by a sea, which twisted her in such a manner that the (V^y seams on her larboard side opened, and the water gushed into the cabin and the mate's birth as if it came from a pump, iand every one thought her side was stove in. However, the Lord was pleased to protect every one from harm ; and, con- sidering all things, the ship did not suffer materially, neither iwas any thing lost." (By this disaster, the only serioiB one >which bas befallen the imissionary vessel in her annual vo3rages during a period of fifty years, four zealous missionaries were abruptly transported from the field of their activity, leaving .their expecting fellow-labourers in Hopedale in a state of the most painful anxiety regarding their fiUe. They returned to Labrador in the following summer, Ithough not without encountering the most imminent risks from storms, thick fogs, and ice-fields, every one of which, seen through the gloom, appeared fraught with death. They were iiappy to find that their Brethren in Hopedale^ though disturbed by apprehensions for their safety, had suffered no want of pro- :ivisians, having been supplied fi'om the.stores at Nain. 'The last year's vessel carried out a translation of the Acts of the Apostles, published for the use of the Esquimaux by the British and Foreign Bible Society, which has before, at different times, presented them with the invaluable gift of the Four Gospels in their own language, and generously ofiered to print a version of the remaining part of the New Testament, which Ls APPENDIX. ai9 now in progress. Besides this, the Harmony of the Gospel History, a hymn book, and a Summary of Christian Doc- trine, for the benefit of the children, have been printed, and are in use among the Esquimaux. On reviewing the progress of the missions, whose history we have been describing, we cannot conclude without expressing our gratitude to God for thus raising up a seed to serve Him in the aeserts of the North, and for so graciously preserving His faithful servants through a course of hardships and dangers encountered in these boreal climes, which, though monotonous in the recital, must have a fearful interest in the reality. But the motive which prompts them to brave these perils and pri- vations is worthy of all their devotion, and the end which they propose to themselves is a glorious one. If He, the Lord of the Harvest, who has sent them forth, still continue to crown their endeavours with his blessing, we may indulge the pleasing reflection, that on the great day of decision, when earth and sea shall render up their dead, the frozen rocks and icy sepulchres of Labrador and Greenland, will yield no inconsider- able proportion of their charge to swell that choral shout whidh shall proclaim the finished work of the Redeemer, and the ful- ness df His reward for the travail of his soul. 320 APPENDIX. A LETTER from ihe Esquimaux Joseph, to the Congregatioru in Europe, The otipnal is written hy his daughterf one of the schoolchildren at Okkak. , . Innuit okperttd akkiptingne- tut, Jesusitnik KausHerttU »- singmingnvt tagulugatik tap- suma Jesusib Kristusib anner- nertnui qjia^inermut akkiksu- magit kattangutigek titau^ gapta, uvangale piungitunga, okkiak tasumana. lUagektut kattimavinget naUiutingmet okkallaungmetta iUale Jesusib aniatigingmatigut assiokonata nakkudiatokapak Jesusib an- neritigmatigut kappiaisugvik. Saptingnet tokkomut taimai- mat anianga tokkotavningalo (rkareksariler pavut inusip- lingne iUunane nakoridhtrgulo ki^agidlalugolo, taipkoa. It' tuit Jesusemut t&ratsainarlit, uvangatauk ittolerutu*iga Jc^ susemut uviut tamaita tapso- manget piksarsiniatsainapun- ga. Okpertut iUunaita saUvr tidlapaka To the believers who dwell on that side of the ocean that is opposite to us, who know Je« sus, andVaik before His eyes, whom indeed we do not see, but who, by the spirit of Jesus Christ, are made our Brethren and Sisters, I am poor and unworthy; but when the congregation is as- sembled, then we are told that Jesus, by His sufferings and denth, has redeemed Mi from all our sins, and their heavy punishment, and that Je^us nas provided that we should not be lost. This is a comfortable doctrine, and worthy of our thanks ; and as it is indeed truth, we therefore keep in memory His sufferings and death, and will praise and thank Him for it all our lives. Ah, that we were all looking only to Jesus ! I am grow- ing old, and I will cleave to Jesus, and every day fetch new life and nourishment for my soul from Him. I sa- lute all believers, and am Josepse Okkamiuk, Jttepte (ffunga Ludevik Jesuabta satigatu talulipagU JTablunalo katangiUivut illU" naila $al%a^Hika, your poor Joseph of Okkak. Joseph greets Lewis (a nussionary> Lewis Morhardt, now in Eurbpe,) in tlie presence of Jesus and all Europeans, who are my Brethren in Him and believe on Him. APPENDIX* 321 A TABLE, Exhibiting the Number of Inhabitants baptized, &o. at the Mission in Oreonland, from its Commencement New Hf rrmhut. we sa- am Yflvs. Number of InhaUtants. New UpUnd. New Com* municMits. Mmiagm. Dcirtlu.| 17S8, 20 ^^^ __ .. 1739, — 4 .. .1.. m^ 1740, «. 1 ^ -. ^ 1741. ... .i_ «— i 1742. 30 5 — .» '. 174S. •^ 11 ^ 1 1 1744. ..^ 16 _ 1 8 1745. .^ 18 _— .— — 1746. 27 — 9 .m. 1747. 180 52 4 I 3 1748. 230 35 15 3 8 1749. _ 35 15 2 6 1750. 300 52 36 2 6 1751. .— 86 ~. 6 11 1752. — 52 36 7 40 1753. — $st 28 6 17 1754. .. 48 -s« 4 57 1755. — 89 .. _ IS 1756. — . 86 17 9 21 1757. 392 53 2 5 11 1758. >— . S3 32 6 12 1759. _ 40 — ^ ~m. 12 1760. — . 25 ._ ^_ 12 1761. 440 25 — .1. 16 1762. 471 44 18 3 19 1767. ^^^ 22 8 4 11 1768. 527 1769. 540 1773. _ _ •■■• .. 70 1799. 279 1810. 300 1813. 346 MM 12 — 1816. 359 1818. 371 ■ ▼OL. II. 3^2 APPENDIX. LlTOHT^NVELS. Tcan. Number of Inhabitants. New baptised. New Com- municanU. Marriages. DeaOu. 1758. __ 1 1 ^^ 1 1759. — * 1760. ' «— 16 1761. 1S7 34. ' ^ 1 1762. 168 . 17 ... _ 7 1767. 200 - 1768. 257 1769. 290 .- 1777. S82 1810. 298 181& 300 1819. 818 LiCHTBNAU. Years. Number oif InhalHtants. 1775. 1781. 1799. 1810. 1813. 1815. 200 305 386 400 432 487 Total Number of Inhabitants at the three Settlemients, according to the latest Accounts. New Hermhut 371 Lichtenfels - 318 Lichtenau - 487 Total 1176 ', APPENDIX. 328 Numbed of Inhabitants residing in the Missionary Settlements on the Coast of Labrador, in 1819. Nain . Olclcalc Hopedale Br M Candidatn forBiqptiim. Commu- nicuti. ChildNn. New Inhabi- tantt. 96 25 37 15 55 50 64 50 58 27 175 225 167 567 THE END. "v LIBRARY Northern Administration and Lands Branch i'/iAR I 1954 of Norithecn Affairs. & National Reaources Printed by Stnhui and SpotUswoodc, Frinter^Street, London.