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Page 4
21st. We began to ship our provision and baggage: viz. six cwt. of
ship's biscuit, sixteen bushels of pease, one cwt. of salt pork and best
beef, (of which but a small portion was consumed, as we were generally
well supplied with fresh provisions, procured by shooting), a firkin of
butter, half cwt. of captain's biscuit, one cwt. of flour, two small
barrels of gunpowder, one cwt. of large and small shot, half cwt. of
tobacco, two eighteen-gallon barrels of ale, a few bottles of brandy,
eighteen pounds of coffee, which was all consumed, coffee and biscuits
being our usual repast; a case containing knives, wire, nails, &c. for
barter, if necessary; kettles and other utensils. Besides that every man
had his fowling-piece, we had four muskets in reserve. After bringing
all on board, we had just room enough to sleep in our cabin.
22d, was spent in conferring with our brethren, on various subjects
relating to the voyage.
23d. All the Esquimaux met at the chapel, and in the most affectionate
manner, and with many tears, bid us and our company farewell. They were
the more affected with grief on this occasion, as the greatest part of
our own Esquimaux thought the voyage impracticable, and expected that we
should all perish in doubling Cape Chudleigh, (Killinek) on account of
the violence of the currents, setting round between the cape, and the
many rocks and islands which stretch from it towards the north. Reports
had likewise been circulated of the hostile disposition of the Esquimaux
in the Ungava bay; and it was boldly asserted, that if we even got there
alive, we should never return. An old conjuror, (Angekok), _Atsugarsuk_,
had been particularly active in spreading these reports. We cannot deny
but that they occasioned some apprehension in our own minds, but being
fully determined to venture in the name of God, and trusting in His
protection, we were thankful that they failed to produce the intended
effect on Jonathan, our guide, and on the other Esquimaux, who were to
go with us, and who all remained firm.
When Jonathan was told that the Ungava Esquimaux would kill him, he
generally answered: "Well, we will try, and shall know better when we
get there:" and once, conversing with us on the subject, expressed
himself thus: "When I hear people talking about the danger of being
killed, I think: Jesus went to death out of love to us, what great
matter would it be, if we were to be put to death in His service, should
that be His good pleasure concerning us."
24th. Having commended ourselves in prayer to the grace and protecting
care of God our Saviour, and to the kind remembrance of our dear fellow
missionaries, we set sail at two P.M.
Our company consisted of four Esquimaux families: 1. _Jonathan_, and his
wife _Sybilla_, both between fifty and sixty years old. He was esteemed
one of the most skilful commanders on the whole coast of Labrador, and
for many years has shown himself both able and willing to serve the
missionaries in a variety of ways. The boat was his own property, and we
considered him as the captain of the expedition. 2. _Jonas_, Jonathan's
son, and his wife _Agnes_, about thirty years of age, both intelligent,
clever Esquimaux; they had their five children with them; _Sophia_,
twelve years old, _Susanna_, _Jonathan_, _Thamar_, and _Sybilla_, the
youngest but half a year old. 3. _Paul_, and his wife _Mary_, very
agreeable, sensible people, about twenty years of age. Paul is
Jonathan's cousin, and a man of a very warm temper. In activity and
skill, he was next to Jonathan. 4. _David_, and his mother _Rachel_, the
first a hopeful young man of about twenty, and the latter a good-natured
old woman, who had the care of our clothes and linen, and kept them
clean and in good order. Besides these four families, we took with us a
boy, _Okkiksuk_, an orphan, about sixteen, whom Jonathan had adopted,
and who promised to reward the kindness of his guardian by his good
behaviour. He was always ready to render us every service in his power.
We were attended on the voyage by a skin-boat (or woman's boat) in which
were _Thukkekina_ and his wife, and their adopted child _Mammak_, a boy
twelve years old. Their age is about forty. The skin-boat was intended
as a refuge, in case of any accident happening to our own boat, and was
useful in landing, as we never brought the large boat close in shore.
The first four families belong to Hopedale, Thukkekina and his wife to
Okkak. They considered it as a great favour conferred on them to be
permitted to accompany us. _Jonas_ and his family occupied the
after-part, and the rest the fore-part of the boat. The wind was
moderate, and due west. We lost sight of our habitations in about half
an hour, behind the N.E. point of the island Okkak, called Sungolik.
At three, passed Cape Uivak, a cape on the continent, forming a
moderately high headland, and the nearest place to Okkak, where
Esquimaux spend the winter. Two or three winter-houses were standing.
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