Kalli, the Esquimaux Christian: A MemoirMurray, T. B. (Thomas Boyles)
Religion
Kalli, the Esquimaux Christian: A Memoir
Murray, T. B. (Thomas Boyles)
Eskimos; Kallihirua, approximately 1834-1856
As the Cathedral clock struck two, Kalli entered the College-gates.
With hair black as the raven's wing, and eyes sparkling with
good-humour, he made his appearance; and soon showed a desire to do
the honours of the College. His dress was neat, like that of a young
English gentleman, and he had a gaiety of look and manner, but far
removed from foppery of apparel or demeanour. With true
politeness--that of the heart--he accompanied the visitors over the
Library, the Chapel, the Common Hall and the Dormitories of the
College; each student having a small bed-room and study to himself.
His Amusements and Occupations
Kalli took great pleasure in exhibiting the carpenter's shop, a
spacious crypt below the Library. Attention was there called to the
wooden frame of a small house, in the construction of which, it
appeared, he had borne a part. He said, when asked, that he should
most probably find the knowledge of carpentering valuable some day,
and that he should like to teach his countrymen the many good and
useful things which he had learned in his College. He spoke little,
and was evidently conscious of his imperfect pronunciation, but in
answer to a question on the subject, he said he hoped to tell his
people about religion, and the truths of the Gospel which he had been
taught in England.
His amusements were of a quiet and innocent kind. He made small models
of his country sledges, one of which, a very creditable performance,
is in the Museum in the College Library, and a rough rustic chair, now
in the College garden, is of his manufacture. He was fond of drawing
ships, and figures of the Seal, the Walrus, the Reindeer, the
Esquimaux Dog, and other objects familiar to him in the Arctic
regions.
[Illustration: WALRUS AND SEAL.]
His sketches of animals and ships were very correct, and he used
sometimes to draw them for the amusement of children.
When on board the "Assistance," he made a good sketch of the coast
line of the region which his tribe frequented, from Cape York to
Smith's Sound.
The use which he made of the needle must not be forgotten. For a year
and a half, whilst at Canterbury, he went regularly for five hours a
day to a tailor to learn the trade, and was found very handy with his
needle. He proved to be of much use in the ordinary work of the trade.
Baptism of Kallihirua
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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