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Page 28
Having doubled the point, we perceived several kayaks approaching. The
people in them shouted aloud for joy, exclaiming, _Innuit, Innuit_! Men,
Men! Some guns were also fired in the boat, which were soon answered by
some fowling-pieces from the shore.
We now saw three tents pitched on the bank, and hoisted our colours,
when we were incessantly hailed by the inhabitants. There was a general
cry of _Kuv�, Kuv�, Kablunaet, Kablunaet!_ Europeans, Europeans! from
the men in the kayaks, who, by all manner of gesticulations, expressed
their pleasure, brandishing their pautiks, (oars), and shouting
continually as they rowed alongside the boat. The women on shore
answered with loud acclamations.
About one P.M. we cast anchor close to their habitations. Fourteen
families were here, among whom were some from a distant district, called
_Eivektok_. These had pitched their tents farther up the river.
_Arnauyak_ was with them, a man, with whom Brother Kohlmeister had
become acquainted some years ago, exceedingly regretted, that he had but
a few days ago left the place, to hunt reindeer on George's river. The
children expressed their joy by running to and fro on the strand, like
wild creatures.
At first, the people in the tents appeared rather shy, but after
accepting of some trifling presents, they became quite communicative,
and gave us some of their toys in exchange; then walking round us,
surveyed us narrowly, as if we were a new species of animals. Most of
them had never before seen an European. Uttakiyok's brother had joined
them, and already informed them of our arrival, without which they would
probably have been yet more alarmed at seeing strangers, and hearing the
report of fire-arms.
They now invited all our people to dine with them, and having heard that
Brother Kohlmeister would like to taste the flesh of a whitefish, a
kettle was immediately placed on the fire, and a large piece put in to
boil. Brother Kmoch meanwhile cooked a savoury soup of birds, and
reindeer-flesh, more fit for an European stomach. While dinner was
preparing, Brother Kohlmeister took a walk up the bank of the river, and
across some hills. As the families belonging to _Eivektok_ had their
summer dwelling in that neighbourhood, the Esquimaux, on perceiving that
he had walked in that direction, and fearing that the Eivektok people,
seeing him alone, might mistake him for an Indian, and shoot at him,
dispatched two men to bring him back. They missed him, and he returned
before them. He found our people very pleasantly conversing with the
heathen concerning the aim of our journey, and the way of salvation.
Even Uttakiyok was thus engaged, explaining, as well as he could, the
cause of our living in Labrador: he exclaimed, "let us, my friends, all
be converted to Jesus." He was heard with peculiar attention, being
considered as a captain among them. In the evening we sang hymns in
Jonathan's tent. The people all came and listened with much seriousness.
26th. To-day the Eivektok families came in a skin-boat down the river, to
see us. They were full of astonishment, but soon took courage, and
handled us, to discover whether we were made of the same materials with
themselves. An old man, _Netsiak_, addressed Brother Kohlmeister: "Are
you Benjamin? I have never seen you with my eyes, but at Eivektok have
heard your name often mentioned." He seemed to be a sensible man, and a
captain among his tribe.
We could not help remarking the difference between these Esquimaux and
their countrymen living on the same coasts with our settlements. The
former are very poor, and miserably equipped, whereas the latter, by
their intercourse with us and other Europeans, have acquired many
conveniences, and are, by barter, well provided with what they want.
27th. We proceeded farther up the river, accompanied by most of the men,
and some women, in their skin-boat, and arrived at a bay, which, by the
winding of the stream, appears like a lake, surrounded on all sides with
gently rising grounds, well planted with wood of moderate size, chiefly
larch. Behind the wood are some low hills. We named this place _Unity's
Bay_. There is here a very good place for a Missionary settlement. A
fine slope extends for about half an English mile, bounded on each
extremity by a hill, on each of which we erected high signals. The land
is even and dry. Juniper, currants, and other berries, grow here in
abundance, and rivulets run out of the wood at a distance of a few
hundred paces from each other. The slope faces the S.S.E. and we named
it _Pilgerruh_, (Pilgrim's rest). Brother Kohlmeister made drawings of
the situation.
From our first arrival we had improved every opportunity of making the
Esquimaux acquainted with the chief aim of our visit to this country,
and addressed them both singly and in companies. Nor were Jonathan and
Jonas remiss in conversing with them about the concerns of their
immortal souls, declaring to them the love of God our Saviour towards
them. We once met with Sybilla, Jonathan's wife, seated with a company
of women, under the shadow of a skin-boat, set on edge, exhorting them,
with great simplicity and fervour, to hear and believe the gospel.
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