The Moravians in Labrador. Unknown
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boys are treated." Karpik perceived the force of this simple reasoning, fell on the neck of his instructor, and promised all obedience in future. It was not, however, till some time after, that eternal things began to make a serious impression on his mind.
At length he grew thoughtful, and under the powerful conviction of his wretched state as a sinner, would often exclaim, "Woe is me! I am good for nothing, I am a miserable creature!" Under these uneasy sensations he at first felt exasperated, and he wished he had never heard of a God or of a Bible; but as the truth beamed in upon his soul, he became calm and peaceful, and manifested a strong desire to be further instructed. He was in this interesting state of mind, when Haven, being called away, committed him to the charge of Mr Drachart, who was then residing at the Brethren's settlement in Yorkshire, under whose tutilage he made rapid improvement in knowledge; and evidenced, by the change of his disposition, and his mildness of manner, and simplicity of conduct, that the gospel had taken powerful hold upon his heart; and this he evidenced still more clearly, when early called to grapple with the last enemy.
From the encouraging progress he was making, his friends were fondly anticipating the time when he should go forth as a zealous missionary of the Lord Jesus among his benighted countrymen, but their hopes were suddenly overcast. On September the 22d, he was seized with the small pox, which, in spite of the best medical assistance, speedily proved fatal. He bore his distemper with patience, and some of his last expressions were, "O! Jesus, I come to thee, I have no where else to go. I am a poor sinner, but thou hast died for me! have mercy upon me! I cast myself entirely upon thee." The day before his death he was baptized by Mr Drachart, who, at his own request, made use of the Greenlandish language in administering the rite. On the 4th October 1769, he expired, the first fruits of Christ's vintage among the Esquimaux; and although not employed to spread the savour of his name among his heathen kindred by the living voice, yet he was honoured by his death to encourage the exertions, and strengthen the faith of those soldiers of the Lord who were buckling on their armour for the glorious combat.
Whether the ruinous effects of the state of anarchy, and murderous contests which prevailed whenever the natives and the Europeans came in contact, or whether the various memorials with which they had been for several years annoyed, had most influence, we know not; but the Board of Trade made a representation early in 1769 to the king, (George III.) and on the 3d May, the same year, a Privy Council was summoned to consider of a petition from the Brethren for establishing a mission on the coast of Labrador. The result of their deliberations was, "That His Majesty in Council gave, and authorised the Brethren's Unity, and the Society for the furtherance of the gospel among the heathen, to take one hundred thousand acres of land (belonging to the Esquimaux,) on the coast of Labrador, where, and in whatever place of the same was most convenient for their purpose." And the Governor of Newfoundland was directed to afford the brethren in their settlement every protection, and to furnish them from the royal stores with fifty muskets and the necessary ammunition.
Following up this favourable opening, the Moravian Synod, which was held at Marienborn, resolved to renew the friendly intercourse with the Esquimaux, and to search out a convenient situation for the establishment of a mission. In consequence, Jans Haven, Drachart, and Stephen Jensen, received this in charge; and some other brethren resolved to take a part in it, and go themselves as sailors in a ship which a Society of the Brethren in London had fitted out, and which they resolved should annually visit the coast of Labrador to carry out supplies of the necessaries of life to the missionaries. They first made land at a place called Arnitok, an island about six miles from the spot where Nain now stands; there they found twenty-nine boats full of Esquimaux, but they behaved in a very unruly manner and with great insolence, till the report of the great guns, fired over their heads, frightened them into order; they then showed themselves friendly, and the missionaries, who understood the language, preached the gospel to them. After this the two brethren, Haven and Jensen, traversed the coast unmolested in search of favourable ground for a settlement; but being unable to find such a spot they set sail again, and on the 15th July ran into an harbour upon the most eastern point of the mainland, near Nain, 55 deg. N.L. Here they found many Esquimaux, and the joy on both sides was greatly heightened, when they recognised among them several of their old acquaintances, in particular Segulliak, who said to Jans Haven, "When I first saw your boat I was afraid, but I no sooner heard that little Jans Haven was there than all fear departed, and I am very glad to see you again, for I have a great love to little Jans." He then bound a strap of leather round Drachart's arm, at the same time saying, "We love thee much!" and laying his right hand on Drachart's breast, continued, "This band on thy arm shall from henceforth be a sign that our love shall never cease. I have not forgot what I heard of the Lord in heaven, and I long to hear more." Drachart answered, "You may indeed be assured that I have a great love for you, when I, an old man—he was then in his sixtieth year—have come again to visit you, that you might hear more of your Lord in heaven, your Creator, who became a man and died on the cross for your sins, for mine, and for the sins of the whole world." The Esquimaux replied, "We will hear the word you have for us!" Drachart continued, and spoke of the great love of the Creator of all things, which moved him to come down from heaven to earth, and by his sufferings and death to redeem us from our sins and eternal punishment. When the brethren confirmed to the savages what Mikak had formerly told them, that they intended to settle among them, they rejoiced like little children, and every one of them gave Jans Haven a small present.
As Mikak had told them that her relations, who had gone to the south, anxiously wished to see them, the missionaries sailed on the 19th July back to Byron's Bay, and sent the Esquimaux boats before them. It was not long before a kaiak arrived with the father of Mikak, who instantly coming on board said, "My daughter and her husband are here on the island before you, and they strongly desire to see and speak with you." Indeed, scarcely had they cast anchor in the open creek, when Mikak with her husband Tuglavina, and their son and daughter, came to them. The man had a white woollen coat, but Mikak herself wore a finely ornamented dress, trimmed with gold, and embroidered with gold spangles, which had been presented to her by the Princess Dowager of Wales, when she was in London, and had on her breast a gold medal with a likeness of the king. Her father also wore an officer's coat. Being invited into the cabin to partake of some refreshments, Jans Haven asked her if she would receive the brethren as her own people. "You will see," she replied, "how well we will behave, if you will only come. We will love you as our countrymen, and trade with you justly, and treat you kindly." On account of the tempestuous weather, the whole party, amounting to fourteen, were detained during the whole night on board the vessel. Early next morning they left them, followed by Messrs Haven and Drachart, who, going from tent to tent, preached the gospel to them. Mikak acted in the most friendly manner—assuring her kindred of the brethren's affection for them, and telling them of all the kindness she had experienced in England, where she had lived in a great house, and been most liberally treated. The missionaries being about to take leave, Segulliak came up to Drachart, and renewed his expressions of attachment; the latter replied, "I do not forget that five years ago you assured me of your love; and only a few days since you bound this thong on my arm as a token of your affection, and by this you have declared that you are willing to hear the word of the sufferings and death of Jesus." When the others heard this, they all cried out, "We also are willing to hear." The missionary then mentioned some particulars of the history of the life and sufferings of the Saviour, and asked if they would wish, as the Greenlanders did, to hear something of Jesus everyday? "Yes! yes!" they all replied. "Then," said Drachart, "if that be the case, we will look out for a piece of land in Esquimaux Bay, where we may next year build a house."
Although these good men had received the extensive grant we have mentioned from His Majesty of England of the Esquimaux country, they did not consider that that gave them any right to take possession without the consent of the inhabitants, or without giving them an equivalent, notwithstanding the settlement was intended solely for their advantage, and was to communicate to them what was of infinitely more value than millions of acres in the finest country of the world, instead of a patch of barren ground on the bleak and inhospitable coast of Labrador. When they mentioned that they meant to "buy" the land, the whole crowd, who perfectly understood the term, cried out, "Good! good! pay us, and take as much land as you please!" Drachart said, "It is not enough that you be paid for your high rocky mountain; you may perhaps say in your hearts, when these people come here, we will kill them, and take their boats and all their valuable