Journal of a Voyage from Okkak, on the Coast of Labrador, to Ungava Bay, Westward of Cape Chudleigh: Undertaken to Explore the Coast, and Visit the Esquimaux in That Unknown RegionKohlmeister, B. G. (Benjamin Gottlieb)
Religion
Journal of a Voyage from Okkak, on the Coast of Labrador, to Ungava Bay, Westward of Cape Chudleigh: Undertaken to Explore the Coast, and Visit the Esquimaux in That Unknown Region
Kohlmeister, B. G. (Benjamin Gottlieb)
Labrador (N.L.) -- Description and travel; Moravians -- Missions
In the morning we landed, and had the usual Sunday's service with our
people on shore; after which Brother Kohlmeister visited the Esquimaux
in their tents, and had some religious conversation with them, to which
they seemed to pay attention. Afterwards Kuttaktok, John, Nukkapiak, and
Kajulik, with their wives, came to see us on board. They are the winter
inhabitants of this bay. John was baptized in infancy at Okkak, but
afterwards left the settlement, and not only associates with the heathen
Esquimaux, but has even been guilty of murder. All of them, however,
come occasionally to Okkak. They had two tents about four miles from our
landing place.
22d. The contrary wind forbidding our departure, Brother Kohlmeister,
accompanied by Jonathan, Jonas, and Thukkekina, walked across the
country to the N.W. bay, to return their visit. When they saw them
coming at a distance, they fired their pieces, to direct them to the
tents, and came joyfully to meet the Missionary and his party. Nothing
could exceed the cordiality with which they received them. A kettle was
immediately put on the fire to cook salmon-trout, and all were invited
to partake, which was the more readily accepted, as the length of the
walk had created an appetite, the keenness of which overcame all
squeamishness. To do these good people justice, their kettle was rather
cleaner than usual, the dogs having licked it well, and the fish were
fresh and well dressed. To honour the Missionary, a box was placed for
him to sit upon, and the fish were served up to each upon a flat stone
instead of a plate. After dinner, Brother Kohlmeister, in acknowledgment
for their civility, gave to each of the women two needles, and a small
portion of tobacco to each man, with which they were highly delighted.
All of them being seated, a very lively and unreserved conversation took
place concerning the only way of salvation, through Jesus Christ, and
the necessity of conversion. With John and his mother Mary, Brother
Kohlmeister spoke very seriously, and represented to them the danger of
their state, as apostates from the faith; but they seem blinded by
Satan, and determined to persist in their heathenish life. The Esquimaux
now offered to convey the party across the bay in their skin-boat, which
was accepted. Almost all of them accompanied the boat, and met with a
very friendly reception from our boat's company. In the evening, after
some hymns had been sung by our people, Jonas addressed them and the
heathen Esquimaux in a short, nervous discourse, on the blessedness of
being reconciled unto God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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