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Page 23
This being the day before our departure, we erected, on two opposite
hills, at the entrance of the bay, high marks of stones, and on the
declivity of a hill to the right, a board, into which we had cut an
inscription, thus--
[Illustration: In front,
Georgius III. Rex.
Societas
Unitatis Fratrum.]
[Illustration: At the back.
Benjamin Kohlmeister,
George Kmoch,
Aug. 7, 1811.
The day of our arrival.]
We raised and fixed this tablet with some solemnity, in presence of
Uttakiyok and his family, as representatives of the people of Ungava,
and of our own company, and hoisted the British flag alongside of it,
while another was displayed at the same time in the boat. We explained
the cause of this ceremony to all present, to the following effect--
"That we, on this day, raised this sign, in the name of our king, George
III. the great monarch of all these territories, in testimony of our
having explored it, and made choice of it, in case we or our Brethren
should think proper to settle here. To which we called upon all present
to bear witness." We then proclaimed the name of the Kangertlualuksoak
to be henceforth _George River_, upon which every man fired his piece
three times, the vollies being answered from the boat.
The texts of scripture appointed for this day were then read, and we
remarked how encouraging they were, as relating to the purpose, for
which we visited these unknown regions:
_From the rising of the sun, even to the going down of the same, my name
shall be great among the Gentiles, saith the Lord of Hosts!_ Mal. 11, 1.
_At the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, of things in heaven, and
things in earth, and things under the earth; and every tongue shall
confess, that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father!_
Philippians, 2, 10, 11.
After the ceremony was over, we distributed some pease, bread, and beer
among the Esquimaux, which enabled them to make a splendid feast, and the
day was spent in the most agreeable manner.
13th. We set sail, about six A.M. with a gentle breeze, which however
soon fell away entirely, and obliged us to take to our oars. Near the
mouth of the bay, we met several kayaks, coming towards us. They were
Esquimaux from Killinek, who expressed regret at not having sooner heard
of our being here; some came on board, and traded with our people. We
presented them with a little tobacco, for which they were very thankful.
In order to get well out of the bay, we first steered North, and then
passed to the S.W. between a peninsula _Nauyat_, lying to the left of
the entrance, and seven small islands and rocks on the right, towards
the island of _Arvarvik_, about six or seven miles distant, where we
were obliged to cast anchor in an exposed situation, the wind having
become contrary. There was a strong swell during the night, which
violently agitated our boat.
_Arvarvik_ is about five miles in circumference. It is covered with the
bones of whales, which the Esquimaux catch here in their kayaks. The
coast is surrounded by a great number of small low islands, with deep
pools between them. Into these the whales stray at high water, and at
the ebbing of the tide, are prevented finding their way back again. The
Esquimaux then pursue and kill them with harpoons. In the island are
ponds of fresh water, and some low hills, overgrown with moss. A great
number of sea-fowl, and also reindeer, are found upon it.
On the shore we found great quantities of a red jasper, or iron-stone,
the same which occurs throughout the coast, from _Killinek_ to South
river, not as a stratum, but in lumps, and generally below high water
mark.
The Esquimaux who landed on the continent reported, that about two miles
inland, there was much low wood.
14th. We left our unpleasant anchorage, and returned to a place where
the skin-boat had lain during the night, as it was sheltered from the
South wind, which had risen considerably.
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