The Moravians in Labrador Part 1

The Moravians in Labrador.

by Anonymous.

INTRODUCTION.

The Moravian Mission in Labrador was attempted under circ.u.mstances scarcely less discouraging than those under which the brethren were enabled to achieve the moral conquest of Greenland, was attended with incidents still more romantic, and blest with a success equally remarkable. But it possesses a peculiar interest to British readers, having been commenced under the auspices of the British government, and promising a more extensive influence among tribes with whom British intercourse is likely to produce a wider and more intimate connection.

The Peninsula of Labrador extends from the 50th to the 61st deg. N.L.

It is somewhat of a triangular form; bounded on the north by Hudson's Straits, and indented by Ungava Bay; on the east by the northern ocean; on the south by Canada and the Gulph of St Lawrence; and on the west by Hudson's and James' Bay, which last coast, by a kind of anomaly in nomenclature, has been called the East Main, from its situation to that great inland sea.

The German geographers do not appear to doubt, what some of our own have called in question, that the discovery and the name of this Peninsula, at least of its eastern sh.o.r.es, were owing to the Portuguese, Gaspar Cortereal, who, in the years 1500 and 1501, in an expedition fitted by the king to discover a western pa.s.sage to India, reached the coast of Newfoundland about the 50th deg. N.L., and sailed northward to nearly the entrance into Hudson's Bay. This tract of country was originally called after its discoverer, Terra Cortereali, a name since superseded by that of Terra de Labrador--the land capable of cultivation. Davis Straits, here about one hundred miles broad, separates it from Greenland, whose southernmost point, Cape Farewell, lies in the same degree of lat.i.tude, [60 N.L.] with Cape Chudleigh, the northernmost extremity of Labrador. The Straits of Bellisle run between it and Newfoundland. The land along the sh.o.r.e is abrupt and precipitous, indented with many little creeks and vallies, surrounded by innumerable islands, and rendered extremely dangerous of access from the mult.i.tude of sunken rocks. The interior is mountainous, intersected by marshes, and abounding with streamlets and lakes.

Detached from the Arctic lands, this country ought to partake in some degree of the temperate cold regions, but whether owing to the elevation of its mountains, or the influence of the perpetual fogs that cover the neighbouring seas, it is as frozen a region as those to the west of Hudson's Bay; and though it lies some degrees farther south than Greenland, yet the cold during the long winter is far more severe, the thermometer being frequently 32 below 0 of Fahrenheit.

Perhaps the immense quant.i.ty of drift ice which acc.u.mulates on the eastern sh.o.r.es, and which extends for so many miles out to sea, may have some influence on the temperature of the climate. The summer, on the other hand, during the short time that it lasts, is proportionally warmer, the thermometer rising from 70 to 80 above 0. Vegetation then proceeds with uncommon rapidity; the shrubs and plants expand as if by enchantment; and the country a.s.sumes the luxuriance and beauty of a European summer. Forests of pine and larch are scattered over the country, the trees of sufficient size to be used in building, or to be sawn into boards; there are also willows, birch, aspen, and alder, in considerable quant.i.ties.

The land animals are the same as those in Greenland. The _rein-deer_, this beautiful and useful creature, is found in considerable herds, but has not hitherto been domesticated, being only hunted for its flesh, which makes an agreeable variety of food; and its skin, which is an elegant and necessary article of clothing, as the fur is always richer in proportion to the intensity of the cold, against which it forms an excellent defence; they are hunted with dogs, and formerly used to be easily killed with the bow and arrow, but the introduction of fire arms has proved much more destructive. When hard-pressed, they soon take to the water, and swim so well that a four oared boat can scarcely come up with them, but an Esquimaux in his kaiak more readily overtakes them. _Hares_ are tolerably plenty. The _Arctic fox_ also is numerous; their skins are used for the purposes of commerce, and their flesh is esteemed preferable to that of the hare. _Black bears_ are frequently killed, and are relished as food by the Esquimaux. But the most formidable among the tribes of these regions is the _Polar bear_, whose ferocity and courage render him an object of terror even to the well armed European. The _dog_ is the most useful of the quadrupeds to the Esquimaux; he bears a strong resemblance to the wolf; is in height about the size of the Newfoundland, and is well furnished with a thick hairy coat, peculiarly adapted to the climate. As a hunter, his scent can trace the seal or the rein-deer at a considerable distance, and he does not dread, when in packs, to attack even the white bear itself. His chief value, however, consists in his qualities as a draught animal; for this he is carefully trained from his infancy, and undergoes severe and frequent floggings to break him regularly into the team. He becomes then remarkably submissive, comes at his master's call, and allows himself quietly to be harnessed to the sledge. In fastening them care is taken not to let them go abreast: they are tied by separate thongs, of unequal lengths, to a horizontal bar on the forepart of the sledge; an old knowing one leads the way, running ten to twenty paces a head, directed by the driver's whip, which is often twenty-four feet long, and can only be properly wielded by an experienced Esquimaux; the other dogs follow like a flock of sheep, and if one receives a lash, he bites his neighbour, and the bite goes round. Their strength, and speed, even with an hungry stomach, is astonishing; and to this they are often subjected, especially by the heathen, who treat them with little mercy, and force them to perform hard duty for the small quant.i.ty of food they allow them. Their portion upon a journey consists chiefly in offals, old skins, entrails, rotten whale flesh, or fins, or whatever else the Esquimaux himself cannot use; if these run out, or if the master, whose stomach is not of the most delicate contexture, requires his dogs' meat, then the poor creatures must go and seek for themselves, in which case they will swallow almost any thing, so that it is always necessary to secure the harness over night, if the traveller wishes to proceed in the morning. The teams vary from three to nine dogs, and this last number have been known to drag a weight of more than sixteen hundred pounds, a mile in nine minutes.

Like the Greenlanders the inhabitants of Labrador must draw their subsistence and their wealth chiefly from the sea; but in this respect their circ.u.mstances are less favourable than the former. Whales are scarce, and the chief species they take is that denominated the white fish, of little value in commerce. In pursuing them they have now adopted the European boat in preference to their own, and those most frequently employed are six oared, rowed by twelve men. The harpooner stands in the bow with his harpoon, or iron spear, which is stuck on a shaft one or two fathoms long, and is provided with a leathern thong of considerable length, to which are attached from five to ten bladders of seal skin. If the whale be struck he immediately dives to the bottom of the sea, where he remains till he is quite exhausted, when he again comes to the surface of the water to breathe; in the meanwhile the boat's crew observe all its motions, and are in readiness with their lances to complete the business, during which, the person who first struck the fish, falls down on his face in the fore part of the boat, and prays that Torngak would strengthen the thongs that they may not break; another of the crew allows his feet to be bound, as a symbol of what he desires, then attempting to walk, falls down and exclaims, "Let him be lame!" and a third, if he observes that the whale is dying, calls out, "Now Torngak is there, and will help us to kill the fish, and we shall eat his flesh, and fare sumptuously, and be happy!" But if the whale appears likely to escape, the first continues lying on his face crying out with vehemence, "Hear yet, and help us!" If the whale get off, some of their conjurors inform them that Torngak was not there, or he did not hear, or he was otherwise employed! Seals are more abundant, and are the chief dependance of the natives, their flesh serving for food, their skins for clothes and covering to their tents and boats, and their blubber for oil or for exchange. Catching the seal was formerly a tedious and laborious process, but now they are generally taken in nets, which the natives have adopted from the Europeans.

Salmon and salmon-trout are caught in every creek and inlet; they remain in the rivers and fresh-water lakes during the winter, and return to the sea in spring. The Esquimaux about Okkak and Saeglak, catch them in winter under the ice by spearing. For this purpose they make two holes in the ice, about eight inches in diameter, and six feet asunder, in a direction from north to south. The northern hole they screen from the sun by a bank of snow about four feet in height, raised in a semi-circle round its southern edge, and form another similar bank on the north side of the southern hole, sloped in such a manner as to reflect the rays of the sun into it. The Esquimaux then lies down, with his face close to the northern aperture, beneath which the water is strongly illuminated by the sunbeams entering at the southern. In his left hand he holds a red string, with which he plays in the water to allure the fish, and in his right, a spear ready to strike them as they approach; and in this manner, they soon take as many as they want. The trout on this coast are from twelve to eighteen inches long, and in August and September so fat, that the Esquimaux collect from them a sufficient quant.i.ty of oil for their lamps. The great shoals of herrings, which are the staple of the Greenlanders, do not touch at the sh.o.r.es of Labrador, but they have abundance of cod at many of their fishing stations, which the missionaries have shown them the method, and set them the example, of curing for their winter's supply.

Sea-fowl of the duck and goose species frequent the sh.o.r.es of Labrador, and the islands scattered around it, and afford to the natives, as they do to the rest of the northern tribes, food, warmth, and materials for trade. Of the land birds, the large partridge, [reiper,] or American wild pheasant, is the only one which the missionaries mention as being used by them as an agreeable variety of food, when, other resources failing, they have been confined to salted provisions.

The peninsula is chiefly inhabited on the coast, where the Moravians have now four settlements. The natives style themselves _Innuit_, _i.e._ men; and foreigners, _Kablunat_ or inferior beings. Their original national name is Karalit, also denoting superiority, and the term Esquimaux, by which they are now so generally known, was given them by their neighbours the Indians, in whose language it signifies "men's raw meat," and probably imports that the Indians were, or it may be, are cannibals, and devoted their captives for this horrible repast. In lowness of stature, in their flat features, and dark colour, they exactly resemble the Greenlanders. Their language is a dialect of the same tongue, intelligible by both; but from their intercourse with foreigners, and their adopting some foreign customs, and becoming possessed of foreign utensils, a number of strange words have been introduced into each, only the former borrowed Danish or English phrases, while the latter had learned many French words. Their dress is nearly similar, being seal-skin coats and breeches, except the outer garment of the women ends behind in a train that reaches to the ground, and their boats are sufficiently large to carry their children if they are mothers--or provisions, or any other packages, if they are not.

Their winter houses are low, long, ill-constructed huts, inhabited by several families, and abominably filthy; they are dug deep in the earth, but the walls above the surface never exceed three feet in height, the roof is elevated in the middle, and the windows are placed to look to the south: the entry can only admit a person to crawl in; on one side of it is placed the kitchen, and on the other the dog-kennel, but no part.i.tion separates the biped from the quadruped inhabitant. If constrained to travel in winter, or to remain at a distance from their usual homes, they build houses of snow, which afford them a tolerably comfortable temporary abode. These habitations are very ingeniously constructed; they first search out a heap of firmly frozen snow, next they trace out a circular figure, of whatever size they think requisite, and then proceed with their long thin knives, to cut out square slabs, about three feet in length, two in breadth, and one in thickness, and gradually contracting as they rise, they form a dome about eight feet high; within, they leave an elevation all round the walls of about twenty inches, which, when covered with skins, serves both for a seat and a sleeping place; a piece of ice serves for a window, and in the evening they close their door with a board of snow; a lamp suspended from the roof gives light and heat to the apartment.

When missions were first commenced among the Greenlanders, they had had but little intercourse with Europeans: it was different when the brethren visited Labrador--the Esquimaux had been long acquainted with Europeans, but of the baser sort, and had lost many of the original features of savage life, without, however, gaining any thing better in their place. Their communication with these wretches, who disgraced the term civilized, corrupted their morals, and did not improve their knowledge, taught them wants, without teaching them how to supply them, except by theft. When the missionaries latterly came in contact with Esquimaux, who were previously unacquainted, or but little acquainted, with white men, they found them comparatively mild and honest. On a voyage of observation, they landed at Nachrack, and they report, "We found," say they, "the people here, differing much in their manners from the people at Saeglak. Their behaviour was modest, and rather bashful, nor were we a.s.sailed by beggars and importunate intruders. We had no instance of stealing. Thieves are considered by the Esquimaux in general with abhorrence, and with a thief no one is willing to trade." Latter voyagers have borne similar testimony to their brethren still further north; but their honesty seems to have arisen from the want of temptation; for the same missionaries add: "We have discovered that this propensity is not altogether wanting in the northern Esquimaux, who now and then, if they think they can do it without detection, will make a little free with their neighbour's property." And a further acquaintance with the natives discovered to the northern navigators, that first impressions are not always to be relied upon, for even the fair damsels could slyly secrete pewter plates, spoons and other valuables in the capacious trunks of their hose-boots; but those near the European settlements had improved in wickedness, and got ingrafted on their own vicious propensities new branches of more vigorous and productive mischief. They were in truth in a situation peculiarly adapted to shew the power and the necessity of the gospel for reclaiming the moral wilderness, for in them it had to overcome the worst vices of barbarous and civilized men.

Their religion too appears to have received no more improvement than their morals; from their neighbourhood to nominal Christians their creed remained much the same. They believed that Torngak, under the figure of an old man, dwelt in the waters, and had the rule over whales and seals, and that a female demon, Supperguksoak, under the form of an old woman, resided in the interior, and reigned over the land animals. But the Angekoks had a.s.sumed a secular power, which they did not possess in Greenland, and exercised at once the office of priest and a chief, of a sorcerer, a thief, and a murderer. Of this several examples will be found in the subsequent narrative, as well as instances of their ridiculous incantations: the females, in some cases, showed the authority and influence of their husbands. Their notions of futurity were gross and sensual, the highest enjoyment of the soul after death, being made to consist in successful hunting and gluttony; the sorest punishment, in poverty and hunger.

The Esquimaux on the east coast of Labrador, may be divided into two sections: those in the south, who seldom come farther than Kangertuksoak, about twenty miles north of Okkak, which lies 57, 20 m. N.L.; and those of the north, who seldom come farther south than Nachrack 59 --m. Saeglak lies between, and in winter is visited by both in their sledges. Those in the north still retain the original native furniture, wooden bowls, and whale-bone water buckets, large and small lamps and kettles of b.a.s.t.a.r.d marble, and are more unvitiated, therefore more to be depended upon than the others. They of the south have obtained European pots and kettles of iron, hatchets, saws, knives and gimlets, woollen cloths, sewing needles, and various other utensils of iron; they are more treacherous, and less to be trusted in their dealings.

So long as Newfoundland remained in possession of the French, the traffic of Europeans with the Esquimaux went little farther than the bartering of fish hooks, knives, or trifling wares, which they had brought with them to the fishing for whale fins. But when that Island fell into the hands of the English, they and the Americans, who promised themselves great advantages from opening a trade with the natives, brought with them a more extensive a.s.sortment of goods. The traffic at first was mis-managed. In order to ingratiate themselves with the savages, the traders both took and allowed greater liberties than were calculated to preserve mutual good understanding. The foreigners excited the cupidity of the natives, which, though easily satisfied at the moment, soon became a constant, increasing, and insatiable appet.i.te; and when their whale-fins, furs, or blubber were exhausted, and they could purchase no more of the articles they had learned to prize, they first quarrelled with those friends who would not make them presents of what they wanted, and then proceeded by fraud or force to supply themselves. Having a thorough contempt for the _Kablunat_, they imagined that they displayed a virtuous and praiseworthy superiority, when they overreached, deceived, and stole from them. The traders who entertained similar notions respecting the Esquimaux, acted in a similar manner, and their intercourse soon became productive of murders and robberies, in which the numbers and cunning of the latter enabled them for a time to be the most successful.

A band of Esquimaux from Avertok, a place not far from where the settlement of Nain at present is, commenced their plundering expeditions upon system, evincing a depraved ingenuity, converted now to better objects. They went regularly to the south with whale fins, which they bought up from their neighbours, and under the pretext of trading with the Europeans, contrived, either by stratagem or open violence, to rob them to an extent far beyond the value of what they pretended to barter; this succeeding for a while, they were joined by others from various quarters, till they were able to equip a fleet of boats amounting to eighteen. In 1763, they so infested the straits of Bellisle, that it was not safe for a fishing vessel to enter them alone. And so successful were these pirates, that they supplied the whole coast, not only with iron utensils and European arms, but likewise with boats, sails, anchors, cords and nets; and boats in particular were in such plenty, that a good one could have been got for a few skins, twelve whale-fins, or two or three dogs. The excesses and cruelties with which these depredations were accompanied, filled the Europeans and colonists with such extraordinary terror, that if but the cry of a bird was heard in the night, every one trembled, and made ready to flee.

The savages preferred stratagem, and to accomplish their purpose did not hesitate to employ the most insidious treachery. When they approached Cape Charles, they never ventured farther, till they reconnoitred during the dark in their kaiaks, and ascertained whether there were any Europeans on the north side of Chateau Bay; if they found none, they advanced in the night, or in foggy weather, to the three islands that lie in the mouth of the bay, whence they, under cloud of night, examined the bay itself. If they found there only a few Europeans, whom they supposed they could easily master, they approached softly so near, that they could stare them in the face, and then raised a most frightful yell, which commonly terrified the Europeans thus taken by surprise, and threw them into such confusion, that they left all, and were glad if they escaped with their lives.

If, however, the Europeans did not allow themselves to be frightened by the unexpected cry, but received them in a friendly manner, and made offer to trade, the Esquimaux would agree with seeming cordiality; and having sent off their boats and families, the men returned in their kaiaks bringing a few whale-fins to sell, and entered upon a very amicable-like traffic. This kind of intercourse they would continue for some days, till, having gained the confidence of the strangers and thrown them off their guard, then the most resolute and strongest of the Esquimaux, concealing their long knives in a secret sheath in their left sleeve, would enter upon a bargain for some more fins, and while adjusting it with the greatest show of friendship, each would seize the trader with whom he was dealing, as if he meant to embrace him, and on a given sign by their leader, would plunge his knife into his heart. In this manner the whole were cut off, and their property became the prey of the savages, who, when they had fairly cleaned Chateau Bay, would set sail to renew their depredations in other quarters, and if dark and misty weather favoured, and their force was sufficient, they would even scour the straits of Bellisle, or roam during the night in search of booty through the neighbouring islands. Such was the character of the savages the Moravians were desirous to civilize; how they succeeded, the following pages will show.

THE MORAVIANS IN LABRADOR

CHAPTER I.

Hudson's Bay Company first settle among the Esquimaux.--J.C.

Erhardt suggests a mission--his letter to the Moravian Bishop.--M. Stach consulted.--London merchants undertake the scheme--engage Erhardt--its fatal conclusion.--Jans Haven employed by the Brethren, encouraged by the British Government, sets out on a voyage of discovery--his providential arrival at Quirpont--first meeting with the Esquimaux--his interesting intercourse--returns to England.--His second expedition, accompanied by Drachart and other missionaries--their proceedings.--Drachart's remarkable conversation with the natives--influence of the missionaries in preserving peace--their religious communications with the savages--the curiosity of the latter--their thievish tricks--their kindness to the missionaries--a dreadful storm.--Drachart and Haven entertained by an Angekok--his incantations--their parting addresses to each other--the missionaries return to London.

When the original Hudson's Bay Company was formed, 1688, for the purpose of trading in furs with the natives, the instructions they sent to their factors breathed the most liberal and benevolent principles. They directed them to use every means in their power to reclaim the heathen from a state of barbarism, and instil into their minds the pure lessons of Christianity; and at the same time admonished them to trade equitably, and take no advantage of their untutored simplicity. It does not appear that much attention was paid to either of these injunctions, or if there was, the efforts proved as abortive as those they made to discover the western pa.s.sage. The moral wilderness still remains around their settlements on the East Maine, while those of the brethren on the opposite coast of Labrador bloom and blossom as the rose.

The first thought of attempting to establish a missionary settlement in that quarter among the Esquimaux, originated with a Moravian brother, John Christian Erhardt, a Dutch pilot. He had in early life made several voyages to Davis Straits; but in 1749, when sailing under Captain Grierson in the Irene, the vessel touched at New Hernhut in Greenland, where he saw the congregation that had been gathered from among the heathen in that land; and in conversation with the brethren they told him that they supposed the opposite coast of North America was peopled by tribes having the same customs and speaking the same language as the Greenlanders. This statement made a deep impression on his mind, and during his stay at Hernhaag, 1750, while musing on the state of that people sitting in the darkness of heathenism, and on how the light of the gospel might be communicated to them, a description of the journey undertaken by Henry Ellis, 1746-7, at the desire of the Hudson's Bay Company, to try to discover a north-west pa.s.sage, accidentally fell into his hands. The account there given of these barbarous regions convinced him that the people were sprung from the same origin with the Greenlanders, and the methods suggested by Ellis for their moral improvement enabled him to bring his own scheme to a bearing.

In a letter, dated 20th May 1750, addressed to Bishop Johannes de Watteville, he laid before him his plan for establishing a mission on that part of the coast between Newfoundland and Hudson's Straits, which had as yet been but rarely visited by Europeans, and offered himself to undertake it. "Whoever," says he in this letter, "has seen our cause in Greenland, and what the Saviour has done to the poor heathen there, surely his heart and his eyes must overflow with tears of joy, if he possess any feeling of interest in the happiness of others: they are indeed sparkling rubies in the golden girdle of our dear Saviour, as the text for the day speaks, Rev 1 13. And I believe the Saviour has in these northern waters many such gems that he will also gather, and set in it to his praise and glory. My heart is much impressed with the thought of carrying the gospel to the before mentioned countries and places." "Now, dear Johannes," he concludes, "thou knowest that I am an old Greenland traveller; I have also an amazing affection for these northern countries, Indians, and other barbarians; and it would be a source of the greatest joy if the Saviour would discover to me that he has chosen me, and would make me fit for this service. It is not for ease or convenience that I so earnestly desire it. I think I can say before the Saviour, if this is of thee thou wilt cause it to prosper, if not, yet it is a good work, and no one will lose any thing by it."

On purpose to further the prosecution of this object, M. Stach, the first Greenland missionary, had been recalled to Europe, and in the year 1752 was sent for to London by Count Zinzendorff, to be consulted with upon the occasion. Application was at the same time made to the Hudson's Bay Company, for permission to preach the gospel to the savages in the neighbourhood of their factories; but this being refused, probably lest it should interfere with their mercantile projects, M. Stach returned to found new settlements near the scenes of his first labours. Meanwhile, three London merchants, but unconnected with the Hudson's Bay Company, Messrs Nisbet, Grace and Bell, fitted out a vessel for the coast of Labrador, to trade in oil and whale fins, and engaged Erhardt, then at Zeist, to act as supercargo, who, on account of his knowledge of the north seas, of the trade, and of the language, they judged well qualified for that office; but they also wished to make some preparation for a missionary settlement, and four brethren, Golkowsky, Kunz, Post, and Krumm, volunteered to remain in the country to learn the language, and endeavour the conversion of the heathen; for this purpose they took with them a wooden house ready to set up, a boat, various articles of furniture, and some kitchen garden-seeds.

Count Zinzendorff, who, from former experience, was opposed to mixing trading transactions with the work of a Christian mission, was not without doubts as to the issue of this undertaking, he did not however attempt to prevent it. The vessel on board of which this small society embarked, named the Hope, reached the south-east coast of Labrador on the 11th July 1752. The whole is precipitous, and skirted with numerous barren rocky islands; among these they had to steer their way under many difficulties, and with the greatest caution, without any proper chart, in misty weather, and with the sounding line constantly in their hands. At length they landed, and proceeded in search of the Esquimaux in order to traffic with them. On the 29th July they made their first appearance in five kaiaks, which they managed with great dexterity, and seemed highly delighted with Erhardt, who, from his knowledge of the Greenlandish, could make himself understood by them.

They exchanged some whale fins for knives. July 31 they came to anchor 55 deg. 31 m. N.L. in a beautiful harbour, surrounded by a wooded high land, and bounded by meadow grounds, to which, from respect to the chief owner of the ship, they gave the name of Nisbet's Harbour.

There the brethren, with the a.s.sistance of the sailors, brought their house on sh.o.r.e, and erected it on this pleasant spot--for it was summer[A]--which they called Hoffenthal, _i.e._ Hopevale; they received from the ship all that was necessary for the supply of their present wants, and putting their confidence in the protection of their heavenly Father, they took up their habitation.

Erhardt, in the mean time, carried on a considerable trade with the natives, who seemed very desirous to a.s.semble around him, and showed him particular marks of affection and attachment. Having remained till the 5th of September, and having seen the brethren, to all appearance, comfortably settled in their dwelling, the vessel left to proceed further to the north, for the purpose of completing her cargo, and Drachart, who had engaged to return to Europe, received in charge the brethren's letters for their friends, and bade them farewell.

Ten days after, on the 15th, the missionaries, to their astonishment, perceived the Hope again re-enter Nisbet's Harbour. Upon boarding her, they learned the painful heart-rending news, that Erhardt, the captain, ship's clerk, and four sailors, had left the ship in a boat filled with merchandize, and for one day had conducted a friendly and gainful traffic with the Esquimaux; but being enticed by the savages, had consented to repeat their visit, perhaps proceed farther into the country, or along the coast, and were never seen more. The vessel, with the remains of the crew, had waited in a state of the most anxious distressing expectation two days and three nights, in hopes of their return; but as they never made their appearance, and they had no other boat to send in quest of them, they were constrained to leave the district, under the distressing conviction that the natives, who had been observed lurking behind some of the small islands, had risen on the unsuspecting party, and murdered them for the sake of their property.

This intelligence threw the brethren into the greatest perplexity, as the person on whom the charge of the Hope now devolved pressed them earnestly to give him their boat, and return with him to Europe, because, from the loss of his best seamen, without additional hands, it would be impossible to navigate the ship. Having come thither at the expense of the merchants, the missionaries could not allow them to suffer in their temporal concerns; and although they would willingly have risked their own lives in the cause, they did not see it equally their duty to risk the lives of others, and the property of the merchants, on an unknown coast and a tempestuous ocean, and therefore agreed to comply with the new captain's request. Leaving provisions in the house, from which they departed with sorrowful hearts, in the feeble hope that perhaps some of those missing might yet be alive, and might be able to find their way thither, on the 20th September they bade adieu to the station, reached St John's, Newfoundland, on the 31st, and about the latter end of November arrived in London.

An issue so disastrous to an expedition so well planned, which apparently carried within itself every rational promise of prosperity, was calculated to throw a damp upon any renewal of missionary enterprize in that quarter; and it did so with those who imagined that they themselves could command success, if their projects were judiciously concerted, and the means sufficiently supplied. It had no such effect on that eminent servant of G.o.d, Count Zinzendorff. When the mournful accounts of the uncertain fate of Erhardt and his companions reached that n.o.bleman, he was grieved, yet not distressed--perplexed, yet not in despair; for he saw much mercy mingled in the dispensation, and was thankful to G.o.d that four brethren had returned safe. Next year the vessel Hope re-visited the coast of Labrador, under the command of Captain Goff. He heard that some dead bodies had been found and buried, and that the missionary station had been burned, but no further particulars were ever learned.

In this manner ended the first commercial adventure and first mission to Labrador--enforcing, in a salutary and impressive manner, the fundamental maxim of the brethren, that worldly speculation ought never to be joined with Christian enterprize.

Notwithstanding this failure, the brethren did not relinquish the hope that G.o.d would, in some way or other, direct them how to reach these savages, and there were not wanting men who showed a strong desire to carry the gospel among them. In particular, Jans Haven, a carpenter, from the moment he heard that Erhardt had been killed by the Esquimaux, could never get rid of the powerful impulse, and in his retirement constantly employed himself with charts and books relating to the subject, and by every means endeavoured to make himself acquainted with the inhabitants, customs, climate and situation of Labrador.

In the year 1758, Haven received a call to a.s.sist the Greenland missionaries in founding the new settlement of Lichtenfels. He then for the first time told Count Zinzendorff, that during six years he had cherished the idea of going to Labrador to make known to the heathen their Creator and Saviour. At first the Count hesitated whether he should allow him to go to Greenland, but upon consideration, he thought it would be better for him to proceed thither; and on taking leave, and giving him his blessing, he said, "Go first to Greenland and learn the language, and the Saviour will do the rest." He accordingly went thither, and was honoured, along with M. Stach, to promote the second settlement in that country.

With all the attachment and love, however, which he soon conceived for the Greenlanders, his predilection for Labrador never abated, while his determination to serve the Lord in those regions was ever present to his mind; and when in 1762 he returned to Germany, he laid his desire before the Conference at Engen, which at that time had the direction of the Brethren's Unity, and offered to undertake personally a voyage of inquiry into these regions. His proposals met with their most cordial approbation, and he took his departure from Hernhut for England in the spring of 1764, with the blessing of the congregation.

He travelled on foot through Germany to Holland, and after encountering numberless difficulties--especially in England from his want of a knowledge of the language--he arrived in London. His first intention was to offer himself as a common sailor or ship's carpenter to the Hudson Bay Company, in order to procure a pa.s.sage; but the brethren advised him rather to try and get to Labrador by the way of Newfoundland.

After many fruitless attempts, he was eventually introduced, through the means of James Hutton, Secretary to the Brethren's Unity in England, to Sir Hugh Palliser, Governor of Newfoundland, and Commodore of the squadron which sailed annually from England. Sir Hugh received him very kindly, and took a lively interest in what appeared to him so praiseworthy an undertaking as the conversion of the heathen; for he rationally concluded that it would also be most advantageous for commerce, if the population of that country were instructed and humanized. He at once promised all his a.s.sistance and support, and even offered to carry Jans Haven out on board his own ship. This the missionary declined, but requested letters of recommendation to the government officers at St John's, which were readily granted, and he set sail with the first vessel for that port. Upon his arrival (May 16th) he lodged at the house of a merchant, who treated him with great civility, and supported himself by working at his trade as a carpenter, while he endeavoured to obtain every information possible respecting the scene of his future labours. In the mean time, his disinterested love for the work he had engaged in was put to an eminently trying test. Many persons who heard of his intentions came to see and converse with him; but instead of endeavouring to strengthen his hands in his missionary designs, they made him several advantageous proposals for settling in Newfoundland, where there would have been no doubt of his speedily realizing a fortune. His heart, however, was bent on a n.o.bler object. That he did not under-rate the difficulties he would have to encounter in his arduous work, appears from a letter written about this time; but he knew likewise where his strength lay. "Every one here," says he, "paints the Esquimaux in the most shocking colours; but I think they are men, and the word of the death of Jesus, which has produced such amazing effects on other barbarous nations, cannot fail to have an influence also on them."

Immediately upon his arrival in St John's, Newfoundland, the Governor issued a proclamation, expressive of his approval of the objects of the mission and of his desire to promote them. "As it would," said he, "be of the greatest advantage to the trade of His Majesty's dominions in North America, if a friendly intercourse could be established between the Esquimaux Indians that inhabit the coasts of Labrador, and the inhabitants of the colonies; and all attempts. .h.i.therto to accomplish this desirable object having failed--partly, it must be confessed, owing to the foolish, treacherous and cruel manner in which some of our people have treated the natives in their traffic with them on their own coasts--some of them being most deceitfully plundered, and others barbarously murdered; in consequence of which we have been brought into the greatest contempt, as if our only design was to lay a snare to get them extirpated: such flagitious proceedings being directly opposed to His Majesty's benign and humane disposition, it is his Royal will and pleasure that these Indians be henceforth treated with kindness, and encouraged to trade with his Majesty's subjects. In conformity with these sentiments of our gracious Sovereign, we deem it necessary to recommend to every possible a.s.sistance the bearer of this, Jans Haven, a member of the Moravian Brethren's Church, who has formed the laudable design of visiting these coasts, and if possible, to communicate the knowledge of religion to the poor ignorant heathen, and also endeavour to remove the prejudices which have prevented them from having a friendly intercourse with us. And further, we, His Majesty's Officers, &c. in Council a.s.sembled, having conversed with the said Jans Haven, and being highly satisfied with him, command that no impediment be thrown in the way of this his attempt, but rather that every possible friendship and a.s.sistance be given him, in order to promote a happy issue to his most Christian undertaking, as by this a great service will not only be rendered to the inhabitants of these colonies, but to His Majesty's subjects in general. Given under our hand, subscribed and sealed at St John's, 1st July 1764. (Signed) HUGH PALLISER"

Fortified by this proclamation, which secured to the missionary the protection of the British Government, a protection which the Brethren have to this day enjoyed, he embarked on board a ship bound for the north, from which he was transferred to a French shallop engaged in fishing on the sh.o.r.es of Labrador. When they arrived on the coast, Haven for the first time saw the Esquimaux rowing about in their kaiaks, but none were permitted to approach without being fired upon, so great was the dread these savages had inspired. He landed, however, 24th Aug., near Chateau Bay, 52 degrees N.L.; but the inhabitants fled at his approach, at least none made their appearance till he left the sh.o.r.e, when they came in numbers to the beach, which was the subject of much merriment to the sailors, who made both him and his object the frequent subjects of their coa.r.s.e ridicule--the few who sympathized in his disappointment advised him to return, and refused further a.s.sistance in what they considered so hopeless a cause. At the same time he was informed that a murderous project was in contemplation against the natives.

All these things filled his heart with the most pungent sorrow, preyed upon his mind, and wasted his body--and he cried to the Lord for relief and help in this distressing situation. Once, when writing down his heavy mournful cogitations in his journal, the master of the shallop entered his cabin, and seeing him in tears, inquired whether he was going to make a complaint to the owners? "No," replied he, "but I mean to complain of you to G.o.d, that he may notice your wicked conduct on the present occasion, for ye have taken his name in vain, and ye have mocked his word!" Struck with this address, the captain entreated his forgiveness, and promised that from henceforth he would do every thing to promote his design, which he faithfully performed, and landed him next day at Quirpont or Quiverant, a harbour in an island, off the north-east extremity of Newfoundland.

Here he landed in a most propitious moment--a number of unprincipled wretches had arrived, and were holding a council to concert a plan for destroying the Esquimaux. Instantly the missionary went to them boldly, showed them the Governor's proclamation, and strongly remonstrated with them; yet it was not without difficulty that he persuaded them to lay aside their diabolical design. To this harbour the natives frequently resorted to trade, or rather more frequently to steal; and here his first interview took place with the Esquimaux, which he records in his diary in the following manner: "September 4 1764 was the joyful day I had so long wished for, when one Esquimaux came into the harbour to see if Captain Galliot was there. While I was preparing to go to him, he had turned, and was departing to return to his countrymen, who lay in the mouth of the harbour, with the intelligence that the Captain had sailed. I called out to him in Greenlandish that he should come to me, that I had words to say to him, and that I was his good friend. He was astonished at my speech, and answered in broken French; but I begged him to speak in his own language, which I understood, and to bring his countrymen, as I wished to speak to them also, on which he went to them and cried with a loud voice, 'Our friend is come!'

"I had hardly put on my Greenland clothes when five of them arrived in their own boats--I went to meet them, and said, 'I have long desired to see you.' They replied, 'Here is an _innuit_.' I answered, 'I am your countryman and friend.' They rejoined, 'Thou art indeed our countryman!' The joy on both sides was very great, and we continued in conversation for a considerable time, when at last they invited me to accompany them to an island about an hour's row from the sh.o.r.e, where I should find their wives and children, who would give me a cordial welcome. I well knew that in doing this I put myself entirely in their power; but conceiving it to be of essential service to our Saviour's cause that I should venture my life among them, and endeavour to become better acquainted with their nature, I turned simply to Him, and said, 'I will go with them in thy name. If they kill me, my work on earth is done, and I shall live with thee; but if they spare my life, I will firmly believe that it is thy will that they should hear and believe thy gospel.'

"The pilot and a sailor who put me ash.o.r.e, remained in the boat, and pushed off a little way from the land to see what would become of me.

I was immediately surrounded, and every one seemed anxious to show me his family. I gave every boy two fish-hooks, and every woman two or three sewing needles; and after conversing about two hours, left them, with a promise of soon being with them again. In the afternoon I returned with the pilot, who wished to trade with them. I begged them to remain in this place during the night, but not to steal any thing from our people, and showed the danger of doing this. They said the Europeans steal also. I answered, if they do so, let me know, and they shall be punished. I seized every opportunity to say something about the Saviour, to which they listened with great attention. I then invited them to visit me next morning, and took leave.

"Next morning accordingly, eighteen Esquimaux came in their boats. I went out to sea to meet them, and as the French Captain was frightened at the sight of such a crowd, I only allowed six of them to come ash.o.r.e with me, and directed the others to land somewhere else. I now informed them of Commodore Palliser's proclamation, and of the kind intentions of the British government towards them, a.s.suring them, that in future no one should be allowed to do them the least injury, so long as they themselves behaved properly and peaceably--to all which they listened with great attention; but when I offered them the written declaration, which I had received from the Commodore, they shrunk back terrified, and would not be persuaded to touch it--for they supposed it a living creature, having seen me speak words from it. I then got into a boat and went with them again to their families, who received me as before, with the greatest show of kindness. In the evening, three French and one English boat arrived full of Esquimaux--the men came immediately to see me, and requested I would visit them in their tents.