[Illustration: THE RIGHT REV. JOHN HORDEN, BISHOP OF MOOSONEE] FORTY-TWO YEARS AMONGST THE INDIANS AND ESKIMO PICTURES FROM THE LIFE OF THE RIGHT REVEREND JOHN HORDEN FIRST BISHOP OF MOOSONEE BY BEATRICE BATTY LONDON THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY 56 PATERNOSTER ROW AND 65 ST PAUL’S CHURCHYARD 1893 PRINTED BY SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE LONDON PREFACE The contents of the present volume are in a large measure the outcome of a long-continued personal correspondence with the late Bishop of Moosonee. As Editor of the _Coral Magazine_ I received from him many appeals for aid in the various departments of his work. I asked for graphic descriptions of the surroundings; and I did not ask in vain. Questions concerning the daily life of himself and those about him, the food and habits of the people, modes of travel, dress, climate, products, seasons, and special incidents were duly answered and fully entered into. The bishop had the pen of a ready writer, and all that he wrote was graphic in the extreme. He was, however, modestly unaware of his talent in this respect, until his eyes were opened to the fact by the well-deserved appreciation of the letters and papers which came more frequently and more regularly increasing in interest as time wore on. The bulk of this book is made up of extracts from this correspondence, with just enough information supplied to give the reader a clear idea of the bishop’s life and work. The journal of his first voyage to the distant sphere of his future labours he sent to me in quite recent years, with the expressed hope that it might be published. The various papers and letters afford not only a vivid picture of life amongst the Indians and Eskimo, but a valuable example of what may be accomplished, even under the most untoward circumstances, by indomitable perseverance, unwavering fortitude, and cheerful self-denial, accompanied always by prayer and a firm reliance upon God. ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me’ was the bishop’s watchword. His motto—‘The happiest man is he who is most diligently employed about his Master’s business.’ Should the pictures of life and work offered in the accompanying volume lead others to follow in Bishop Horden’s footsteps, their purpose will have been indeed fulfilled. CONTENTS CHAPTER PAGE I. THE VOYAGE OUT 13 II. ACQUIRING THE LANGUAGE 18 III. EARLY LIFE 23