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Page 19
Some of them had formerly dwelt in different places north of Okkak, and
were known to the Missionaries in former times, the rest were perfect
strangers. They declared their intention of coming over to the North of
Okkak, to remain some time in that country, for the sake of trade. It
has been mentioned, that some of the Ungava people have come to Okkak,
and carry on a trade between their countrymen and that place. They are a
kind of middle men, bring fox and bear-skins, and exchange them for
European goods. These they carry back, and sell at a very advanced price
in the Ungava country. They spend two years on such a trading voyage.
Brother Kohlmeister visited the people in their tents. They were about
fifty in number, men, women, and children. He informed them, that
nothing could induce the Missionaries to come into this country, but
love to the poor heathen, and an ardent desire to make them acquainted
with their Creator and Redeemer, that through Him they might attain to
happiness in time and eternity. Some seemed to listen with great
attention, but the greater part understood nothing of what was said.
This, of course, did not surprise us, as most of them were quite
ignorant heathen, who had never before seen an European. They, however,
raised a shout of joy, when we informed them, that we would come and
visit them in their own country. Many were not satisfied with viewing
us on every side with marks of great astonishment, but came close up to
us, and pawed us all over. At taking leave we presented them with a few
trifles, which excited among them the greatest pleasure and
thankfulness.
We recommend these heathen to the mercy of God, and pray, that the day
may soon dawn, when the light of the saving gospel of Jesus may shine
into their hearts.
3d. Several of them came on board, once more to see us, and, in their
way, to express their regard and gratitude. They also got some useful
articles from our people, in exchange for their goods. We now set sail,
passed a point called _Oglarvik_, and the bay _Takpangayok_, and arrived
at _Tuktusiovik_, (a place where reindeer are seen), where we cast
anchor for the night. Already at Omanek we had discovered a great
difference between the rise and fall of the tides there and about
Killinek. In the latter place it rose to four fathoms, but here still
higher. The country looked pleasant, with many berry-bearing plants and
bushes. There was, likewise, plenty of drift-wood all along the coast;
not the large Greenland timber, but small trees and roots, evidently
carried out of the great rivers of the Ungava by the ice. We had, of
course, fire-wood enough, without robbing the graves of their
superstitious furniture. Our Esquimaux pitched their tent on shore, and
we supped with them on a mess of seal's flesh and eider-ducks. The
musquitoes were extremely troublesome during our repast, after which we
retired to sleep on board the boat.
4th. Wind fair. We passed numerous low rocks; a point, by name unknown
to Uttakiyok; the bay _Ikpigitok_, two miles broad, and the cape called
_Uibvaksoak_, the northern boundary of the great bay or gulf of
_Abloriak_. This cape is surrounded by many bare and sunken rocks, which
caused us to stand out pretty far to the westward. While we were off the
point, we descried, at a very great distance to the N.W. a large island,
called by the Esquimaux _Akpatok_. They say, that it encloses the whole
bay or gulf towards the sea, and consists of high land: also, that it is
connected with the western continent at low water by an isthmus. The
north coast of this island appears to be the line laid down in maps and
charts as the coast of America, to the south of Hudson's Straits. But
the district of Ungava is separated from the island by a large inland
bay, extending southward to the 58� N.L. North of Akpatok, the Esquimaux
speak of islands well peopled by their countrymen, who have never seen
Europeans.
Having safely doubled the point or cape of _Uibvaksoak_, we came to an
anchor near a small island to the south, where we spent the night.
5th. Calm weather, and proceeded gently. About 9 A.M. the wind turned
against us, and we ran into a small bay, about five miles from our
former anchoring-place. Here we found the _Andromeda tetragona_ growing
in tolerable quantity, on the banks of a lagoon of fresh water. The face
of the country was unpleasant, with many steep rocks. On a precipice
behind our tent we perceived nests of birds of prey. The naked rocks had
singular shapes, and presented to the imagination the ruins of a
destroyed town. In the vallies we saw many small lagoons, but little
grass, and the excrements of geese. It was about full moon, and the tide
rising here five or six fathom, occasioned the most strange alterations
in the prospect towards the sea, which, being smooth and clear of rocks
at high water, exhibited, after its fall, an archipelago of rugged
islands and black flats.
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