IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) k A ^ * ^/ {< '^ -^ ^ ^(3 IX) y= 1.25 bi|2£ 125 *" I. NiUU U 11.6 V /A Hiotograpljic Sciences Corporation 23 WEST MAIN STREET WEBSTER, N.' 14580 (716) 872-4503 E?, CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICIVIH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical l\1icrorpproductions / Institut Canadian de microreproductions historiques ^ ;V Tachnicai and Bibliographic Notas/Notas tachniquas at bibliographiquaa Tl to Tha Inatituta haa attamptad io obtain tha baat original copy availabia for filming. Faaturaa a thia copy which may ba bibliographically uniq^,a. which may altar any of tha imagaa in tha raproduction, or which may significantly changa tha uaual mathod of filming, ara chackad balow. □ Colourod covara/ Couvartura da coulour □ Covara damagad/ Cc D D Couvartura andommag^a Covarr rastorad and/or laminatad/ Couvartura raataurAa at/ou pallicuMa r~n Covar titia miasing/ D D D La titra da couvartura manqua Colourad mapa/ Cartas giographiquaa wi coulaur Colourad ink (i.a. othar than blua or black)/ Encra da coulaur (i.a. autro qua blaua ou noira) pn Colourad plataa and/or illuatrationa/ D Planchaa at/ou illuatrationa ao coulaur Bound with otiiar matarial/ RalM avac d'autras documants Tight binding may cauaa shadows or diatortion along intarior margin/ La r« liura sarria paut cauaar da i'ombra ou da la diatorsion Io long do la margo int4rioura Blank laavaa addad during raatoration may appaar within tha taxt. Whanavar poaaibia, thaaa hava baan omittad from filming/ II sa paut qua cartainaa pagaa blanchaa ajoutiaa lors d'una raatauration apparaiasant dana la taxta. maia, iorsqua cala Atalt possibla. cas pagas n'ont paa M filmAaa. Additional commanta:/ Commantairaa suppiimantairaa- L'Inatitut a microfilm* la maillaur axamplaira qu'il lui a *t* possibla da sa procurar. Las details da cat axamplaira qui sont paut-itra uniquas du point da vua bibliographiqua. qui pauvant modifiar una imaga raproduita, ou qui pauvant exigar una modification dans la mithoda normala da filmaga sont indiquis ci-daaaoua. |~~] Colourad pagaa/ n Pagaa da coulaur Pagaa damagad/ Pagaa andommagtes Pagas raatorad and/oi Pagas raataurtes at/ou pailiculiaa Pagas discoiourad, stainad or fo*ta< Pagas dicolorias, tachatias ou piquias Pagas datachad/ Pagas dAtachias Showthrough/ Transparanca Quality of prir Quality inigaia da I'impraaaion Includas supplamantary matarii Comprand du matirial supplimantaira Only adition availabia/ Saula Adition disponibia |~~| Pagaa damagad/ r~~| Pagas raatorad and/or laminatad/ [~~T1 Pagas discoiourad, stainad or fo*tad/ r~~| Pagas datachad/ ry\ Showthrough/ nn Quality of print varias/ |~~| Includas supplamantary matarial/ p~| Only adition availabia/ Tl P< of fll Oi b« th ail ot fir ail or Th ah Tl wl M< di •n| bo rig ro( mi Pagas wholly or partially obscurad by errata slips, tissuas, ate, hava baan rafiimad to ansura tha bast possibla imaga/ Laa pagas totalamant ou partiallamant obscurcias par un fauillat d'arrata, una palure, ate. cnt^ta fiimaas k nouvaau da faqon a obtanir la maillaura imaga possibla. This itam is filmad a: tha raduction ratio chackad balow/ Ca documant ast film* au taux d« f^duction indiqui ci-daaaous. 10X 14X 18X 22X 26X 30X J 1 □ 12X 16X 20X 24X 28X 32X w TIm copy fllmMl h«i« has b««n raproduead thanks to tha ganaroaity of: Library of tha Public Archivaa of Canada L'axamplaira fHmi f ut raproduit grica i la g^niroaitA da: La bibliothiqua das Archivaa publlquas du Canada Tha imagas appaaring hara ara tha baat quality possibia conaidaring tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in icaaping with tha filming contract spaeif Icationa. Original coplaa in printad papar covars ara filmad baginning with tha front covar and anding on tha last paga with a printad or lllustratad impraa- slon, or tha back covar whan approprlata. Ail othar original copies ara filmad baginning on tha first paga with a printad or lllustratad impras- sion, and anding on tha last paga with a printad or lllustratad imprasslon. Tha last racordad f rama on aaeh microfiche shall contain tha symbol — ^- (moaning "CON- TINUED"), or tha symbol V (moaning "END"), whichavar appllas. Laa Imagaa suhrantaa ont At* raproduitaa avac la plua grand soin. eompta tanu da la condition at da la nattat* da l'axamplaira fllmA, at an conformiti avac las conditions du contrat da filmaga. Laa axampiairaa orlglnaux dont la couvartura mn papiar aat ImprimAa aont filmte an commandant par la pramiar plot at an tarminant salt par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'impraaaion ou d'lllustration, soit par la sacond plat, salon la cas. Tous laa autras axamplairas orlglnaux sont filmte an commandant par la pramlAra paga qui comporta una amprainta d'impraaaion ou d'llluatration at an tarminant par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una talla amprainta. Un das aymbolas suhrants apparattra sur la darnlAra imaga da chaqua microficha, salon la caa: la symbola — »- signifia "A 8UIVRE", la symbola y signifia "FIN". IMaps, platas, charts, ate, may ba filmad at diffarant reduction ratloa. Thoaa too larga to ba entirely included In one expoaura are filmed beginning In the upper left hand corner, left to right and top to bottom, as many frames as required. The following diagrams illustrate the method: Lea cartas, pianchae, tableaux, etc.. peuvent Atre filmAs A dee taux da rAduction diff Arants. Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un soul ciichA. II est filmA A partir fie I'angle eupAriaur gauche, do gauche A droite. et do haut an has. an prenant la nombre d'images nAcessaira. Las diagrammas sulvants lllustrant la mAthoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 a A^ ppiiiww i''V''v;.'^v$-'* DANGERS ON THE ICE No. 556. OFF THE COAST OF LABRADOR ; WITH SOME INTEREST- . ING PARTICULARS RESPECTING THE NATIVES OF THAT COUNTRY 11. LONDON: Printed for THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY, TnstUuted 1799, ' ' AND SOLD AT THEIR DEPOSITORY, 56, PATERNOSTEB-ROW ; ET J. Am Ct aVANs, 42, long-lane; and bv all otuer boorsglleiis. [Price One Penny.] LiKal.Mi 5 I'liitud by Vv'. Ci owns and Sons, Duke Street, Lambetli* ■■■yi0>4 p wa I DANGERS ON THE ICE, OFF THE COAST OF LABRADOR i»^*s*#rfVs<»'«'»^'^*W-*>» > » rr^HE Moravian Missionaries on the coast of Laorador I (a part of North America) for many years suffered much from the severity of the climate, and the savage dis position of the natives. In the year 1782, the brethren, Liebisch and Turner, experienced a remarkable preserva- tion of their lives ; the particulars show^ the dangers the Missionaries underwent in pursuing their labours. To this Narrative are added some further particulars, which show their labours were not without success. Early on March the 11th, they left Nain to go to Okkak, a journey of 160 miles. They travelled in a sledge drawn by dogs, and another sledge with Esquimaux joined them, the whole party consisting of five men, one woman, and a child. The weather Was remarkably fine, and the track over the frozen sea was in the best order, so that they tra- velled at Ihe rate of six cr seven miles an hour. All there- fore were m good spirits, hoping to reach Okkak in two or three days. Having passed tlie islands in the bay, they kept at a considerable distance from the shore, both to gain the smoothest part of the ice, and to avoid the high and rocky promontory of Kiglapeit. About eight o'clock they met a sledge with Esquimaux driving towards the land, who intmiated that it might be v/ell not to proceed ; but as the missonaries saw no reason for it, they paid no re gard to these hints, and went on. In a while, however, their own Esquimaux remarked, that there was a swell under the ice. It was then hardly perceptible, except on applying the ear close to the ice, when a hollow grating and roaring noise was heard. The weather remained clear, and no sudden change was expected. But the motion of the sea under the ice had grown so perceptible as rather to alarm our travellers, and they began to think it prudent to keep closer to the ahore. The ice in many places had 6ft6 ' 3 fissures and cracks, some of which formed chasms of oi)« or two feet wide ; but as they are not uncommon^ and the dogs easily leap over them, the sledge following without danger, they are terrible only to new comers. As soon as the sun declined, the wind increased and rose to a storm. The snow was driven about by whirl winds, both on the ice and from off the peaks of the high mountains, and filled the air. At the same time the swell had increased so much, that its effects upon the ic0 became very extraordinary and alarming* The sledgesi instead of gliding along smoothly upon an even suriace,, sometimes ran with violence after th^ dogs, and shortly after seemed with difficulty to ascend the rising hill ; for the elasticity of so vast a body of ice, of many leagues square, supported by a troubled sea, though in some places three or four yards in thickness, would, in some degree^ occasion a motion not unlike that of a sheet of paper upon the surface of a rippling stream. Noises were now like- wise heard in many directions, like the report of cannon, owing to the bursting of the ice at some distance. The Esquimaux drove with all haste towards the shore, as it plainly appeared the ice would break and disperse in the open sea. When the sledges approached the coast, the prospect before them was truly terrific. The ice, naving broken loose from the rock a, was forced up and down, grinding and breaking into a thousand pieces against the precipices, with a tremendous noise, which, added to the raging of the wind, and the snow driving about in the air, nearly deprived the travellers of the power ol hea^i^g and seeing any thing distinctly. To make the land at any risk, was now the only hop9 left, but it was with the utmost difficulty the frighted dogs could be forced forward, the whole body of the ice sinking frequently below the rocks, then rising above them. As the only moment to land was that when the ice gained the ^evel of the shore, the attempt was extremelv nice and hazardouB. However, by God s mercy, it succeeded ; both sledges gained the shore, and were drawn up the beach, though with much difficulty. The travellers had hardly time to reflect with gratitude to God for their safety, when that part of the ice fro«| which they had just now made gooyl their )an4infi;« bwrst 5.56 r mmm IP asunder, and tke water forcing itself from below^ covered and precipitated it into the sea. In an instant, the whole mass of ice, extending for several miles from the coast, and as far as the eye could reach, burst, and was over- whelmed by the rolling waves. The sight was tremendous and awfully grand ; the large fields of ice raising them- selves out of the water, striking against each other, and phmging into the deep, with a violence not to be described, and a noise like the discharge of innumerable batteries of heavy guns. The darkness of the night, the roaring of the wind and the sea, and the dashing of the waves and ice against the rocks, filled the travellers with sensations of awe and horror, so as almost to deprive them of the power of utterance. They stood overwhelmed with as • tonishment at their miraculous escape, and even the heathen Esquimaux expressed gratitude to God for their delive- rance. The Esquimaux now began to build a hut with snow, about thirty paces from the beach, but before they had finished their work, the waves reached the place where the sledges were secured, and they were with difficulty saved from being washed into the sea. About nine o'clock all of them crept into the snow-house, thanking God for this place of refuge ; for the wind was piercingly cold, and so violent, that it required great strength to stand against it. Before they entered this habitation, they could not help once more turning their eyes to the sea, which was now free from ice. They beheld with horror, mingled with gratitude for their safety, the enormous waves driving furi- ously before the wind and approaching the shore, where with dreadful noise they dashed against the rocks, foaming and filling the air with spray. The whole company now got their supper, and having sung an evening hymn in the Esquimaux language, lay down to rest about ten o'clock. The Esquimaux were soon fast asleep, but brother Liebisch could not get any rest, partly on account of the dreadful roaring of the wind, and partly owing to a sore throaty which gave him much pain. His wakefulness proved the deliverance of the whole party from sudden destruction About two o'clock in the morning, he perceived some salt water dropping from the roof of the snow-house upon his lips. On a sudden^ a tremendous wave broke close to the 556 house, discharging a quantity of water into It ; a second soon followed, and carried away the slab of snow placed as a dour before the entrance. The missionaries having roused the sleeping £squimaux, they instantly set to work One of them with a knife cut a passage through the house, and each seizing some part of the baggage, threw it out on a higher part of the beach ; brother Turner assisting them. Brother Liebisch and the woman and child fled to a neighbouring eminence. The latter were wrapt up by the Esquimaux in a large skin, and the former took shelter behind a rock, for it was impossible to stand against the wind, snow, and sleet. Scarcely had the company re- treated, when an enormous wave carried away the whole house. They now found themselves a second time delivered from the most imminent danger of death ; but tne remain- ing part of th? night, before the Esquimaux could seek and And another and safer place for a snow-house, were hours of great distress and very painful reflections. Before the day dawned, the Esquimaux cut a hole in a large drift of biiow, to serve as a shelter to the woman and child and the two missionaries. Brother Liebisch, however, owing to the pain in his throat, could not bear the closeness of the air, and was obliged to sit down at the entrance, being covered with skins, to guard him against the cold. As soon as it was light, they built another snow-house, and miserable as such an accommodation must be, they were glad and thankful to creep into it. The missionaries had taken but a small stock of provi-' ^ions with them, merely sufficient for the short journey to Okkak. Joel, his wife and child, and Kassigiak, a heathen sorcerer, who was with them, had nothing. They M'ere obliged therefore to divide the small stock into daily por- tions, especially as there appeared no hopes of soon quit-- ting this place and reaching any dwellings. They there- fore resolved to serve out no more than a biscuit and a half per day to each. The missionaries remained in the snow-, house, and every day endeavoured to boil so much water over their lamps, as might supply them with two cups o! coifee a-piece. Through ruercy they were preserved in good health, and, quite unexpectedly, brother L^^ibisch recovered on the first day of his sore throat. The 656 Eiquimaux also kept up their spiritR, and even K&fisiginkj Ihougli a wild heathen, declared, that it was proper to be thankful that they were Htill alive ; adding, that if they hod remained a little longer on the ice yesterday all their bones would have been broken in a short time. Towards noon of the 1 3th, the weather cleared up, and the sea was seen as far as the eye could reach, quit clear and free from ice ; but the weather being very stormy, the Esquimaux could not quit the snow-house, which made them ^'ery low-spirited and melancholy. They, however, possess one advantage, namely, the power of going to sleep when they please, and, if need be, they will sleep for days and nights together. In the evening of the I5\h. the sky became clear, and their hopes revived. Mark and Joel went out to recon- noitre, and reported that the ice had acquired a conside- rable degree of solidity, and might soon afford a safe pas sage. The poor dogs had now nearly fasted four days, but in the prospect of a speedy release, the missionaries allowed to each a few morsels of food. The temperature of the air having been rather mild, it occasioned a new source of distress, for, from the warmth of the inhabitants, the roof of the snow-house began to melt, which occasioned a con- tinual dropping, and by degrees made every thing soaking wet. The missionaries considered this the greatest hard- ship they had to endure, for they had not a dry thread about them, nor a dry place to He in. On the 16th, early, the sky cleared, but the fine par- ticles of snow were driven about like clouds. Their pre- sent distress dictated the necessity of venturing something to reach the habitations of men, and yet they were rather afraid of passing over the newly frozen sea, and could not determine what to do. Brother Turner went again with Mark to examine the ice, and both seemed satisfied that it had acquired sufficient strength. They therefore came to a final resolution to return to Nain, committing themselves to the protection of the Lord. Notwithstanding the wind had conwderably increased, accompanied with heavy showers of snow and sleet, they ventured to set off at half-past ten o'clock in the forenoon of the 19th. Mark ran all the way round Kiglapeit before the sledtfe to find a good track, and about one o'clock, St6Q through Go(}'8 mercy, they were out of danger and reached the Bay. Here they found a good track upon smooth ice, and made a meal upon the remnant of their provisions. Thus refreshed, thev resolved to proceed without stopping till they reached Nam, where they arrived at twelve o'clooR at night. It may easily be conceived with what gratitude to God the whole family at Nain bade them welcome. Puring the storm, they had considered with some dread, A^'hat might be the fate of their brethren, though its violence was not felt so much there. Added to this, the hints of the Esquimaux had considerably increased their ttpprehen sions for their safety, and their fears began to get the bet ter of their hopes. All, therefore, joined most fervently in praise and thanksgiving to God, for this signal deliver- ance. For many years the conversion of the heathen in Labra- dor, not only proceeded very slowly, but was attended with many discouraging circumstances. The missionaries had patiently persevered in preachiu^ to the natives, and watching every opportunity to ma^e them attenti ^e to the best interests of their souls : but reaped little fruit from their labours. Visits were frequent, and there was in ge- neral no want of hearers to address, but they showed no disposition to be instructed. If even a salutary impression was occasionally made on their minds, it was not abiding. Some families were indeed collected in the different settle- ments, but after staying there during the winter, they mostly moved away again in summer, and apparently forgot all they had heard. Before the close of the year 1804, a new period com menced. A fire from the Lord was kindled among the Esquimaux, accompanied with the clearest evidence of being the effect of the operations of the divine Spirit on their hearts. It commenced at Hopedale, the very place which presented the most discouraging prospect. When the Esquimaux of that place returned from their summer excursions, the missionaries were delighted to find, that they not only had been preserved from sinful practices, but had greatly increased in the knowledge oi divine truth. They had obtained an humbling insight into the corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, and the 656 8 >rrelched btate of a person void of faith in Christ. Thia constrained them to cry for mercy, and gladly to accept nalvation on the terms of the gospel : and some afforded encouraging hopes, that they had found forgiveness of sins in the hlood of Christ, by which their souls were filled with peace in believing. Out of the abundance of the heart their mouths spake of the love and power of Jesus. Their artless but energetic declarations impressed the rest of the inhabitants. They began to feel the necessity of true conversion ; and in a short time all the adults ap- peared earnestly to seek peace with God. Even several of the children were awakened. The missionaries were daily visited by people, who either inquired *' what they must do to be saved," or testified of the grace of God manifested to their souls. The progress of the mission, in the sequel, supplies sufficient proof, that the effect of the gospel, just related, was not a wild tire, or the mere consequence of a momen- tary impression, but a divine work wrought in the hearts of the natives by the Spirit of God himself. The mis- isiunaries frequently mention the attention and diligencv shown in the schools, both by adults and children, and the delight and fervour with which they engage in their family devotions, and in conversations with each other respecting the influence of the gospel on their own souls. Their be- iiaviour at public worship likewise very strikingly differed from that of former years, with regard to the eagerness with which they now attended the house of God, and their deportment during the performance of divine ^^^ervice. On one occasion the missionaries remark, " We ..o longer see bold, undaunted heathen sitting before us, with defiance or ridicule in their looks ; but people expecting a blessing, desirous to experience the power of the word of life, shed- iing tears of repentance, and their whole appearance evin- ijing devotion and earnest inquiry.** Christians ! does not this narrative present us with some aseful subjects for reflection ? London: Printed for The Religious Tract Society; and , sold at their .1 )'ij)Oiitory^ 56, Paternoster-row; by J. and C. Evans, 42, Loii^-lanet Smilhjield ; and by other Book' Mdlers. toadOftt l>nnt«d by W. Clov.es and Sons, Duke Street, Lambeth. ■^ Jfe'