Among the excellent regulations adopted by the brethren, one, and not the least important, was, in their transactions with the savages, while they did them every kind office, to offer them nothing which might appear in the shape of a bribe to induce them to embrace their religion: they sometimes built boats for them, and sometimes improved and repaired those they had, and furnished them with iron pots, and arrows and lances for seal hunting, but they always required payment, which the Esquimaux could easily render in whale fins, seals' blubber, or such other articles as their dexterity could procure. Very soon, instruments of European manufacture became so necessary, that the natives were rendered industrious by the desire to possess them, while they enabled them to render that industry doubly advantageous. In this traffic the annual visits of the Society's vessel were important, and the greater part of the barter was carried on through the agent or supercargo. More than a hundred Esquimaux, during the summer, planted their tents round Nain, to whom the missionaries preached the gospel. Of the manner in which they did this, Drachart tells us in his journal, "My method," says he, "is first to give a short discourse, and then to ask a few plain questions which only require a denial or assent; but they do not always content themselves with this--for instance, if I ask if they, as poor sinners, would wish to come to the Saviour, some would say, Yes! we cannot deny that we are poor sinners, and we begin to reflect upon what we have heard from you about this, and to converse with one another on the subject. Others will boldly reply, No! we will not think of it; and a third sort will confess they do not understand any thing about the matter, but would be glad to know if I had any knives to sell, for they had whale fins. I then pray to the Saviour:--Thou hast in Greenland made many stupid minds to understand, and many cold hearts warm; O do the same here, and bless my weak discourse that I may not be put to shame, for it is indeed thine own cause." During the winter the natives retired to other places, the nearest of which was many miles distant from Nain; individuals, however, came from time to time to visit the brethren; among these were Mikak, Tuglavina, and Segulliak, and the brethren returned their visits, as far as the deep snow and excessive cold would permit. The friendly reception they met with upon these occasions, and the willingness with which the heathen heard the word, reconciled the missionaries to the filth and inconvenience they had to encounter. Of these the following specimen will enable the reader to form some idea.