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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14014 ***
+
+No. 556
+
+DANGERS ON THE ICE OFF THE COAST OF LABRADOR
+
+With Some Interesting Particulars Respecting the Natives of that Country
+
+Printed for the Religious Tract Society
+
+London
+
+[Price One Penny]
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+The Moravian Missionaries on the coast of Labrador (a part of North
+America) for many years suffered much from the severity of the climate,
+and the savage disposition of the natives. In the year 1782, the
+brethren, Liebisch and Turner, experienced a remarkable preservation of
+their lives; the particulars show the dangers the Missionaries underwent
+in pursuing their labours. To this Narrative are added some further
+particulars, which show their labours were not without success.
+
+Early on March the 11th, they left Nain to go to Okkak, a journey of
+150 miles. They travelled in a sledge drawn by dogs, and another sledge
+with Esquimaux joined them, the whole party consisting of five men, one
+woman, and a child. The weather was remarkably fine, and the track over
+the frozen sea was in the best order, so that they travelled at the
+rate of six or seven miles an hour. All therefore were in good spirits,
+hoping to reach Okkak in two or three days. Having passed the islands
+in the bay, they kept at a considerable distance from the shore, both
+to gain the smoothest part of the ice, and to avoid the high and rocky
+promontory of Kiglapeit. About eight o'clock they met a sledge with
+Esquimaux driving towards the land, who intimated that it might be well
+not to proceed; but as the missionaries saw no reason for it, they paid
+no regard to these hints, and went on. In a while, however, their own
+Esquimaux remarked, that there was a swell under the ice. It was then
+hardly perceptible, except on applying the ear close to the ice, when a
+hollow grating and roaring noise was heard. The weather remained clear,
+and no sudden change was expected. But the motion of the sea under the
+ice had grown so perceptible as rather to alarm our travellers, and they
+began to think it prudent to keep closer to the shore. The ice in many
+places had fissures and cracks, some of which formed chasms of one or
+two feet wide; but as they are not uncommon, and the dogs easily leap
+over them, the sledge following without danger, they are terrible only
+to new comers.
+
+As soon as the sun declined, the wind increased and rose to a storm.
+The snow was driven about by whirl winds, both on the ice and from off
+the peaks of the high mountains, and filled the air. At the same time
+the swell had increased so much, that its effects upon the ice became
+very extraordinary and alarming. The sledges, instead of gliding along
+smoothly upon an even surface, sometimes ran with violence after the
+dogs, and shortly after seemed with difficulty to ascend the rising
+hill; for the elasticity of so vast a body of ice, of many leagues
+square, supported by a troubled sea, though in some places three or four
+yards in thickness, would, in some degree, occasion a motion not unlike
+that of a sheet of paper upon the surface of a rippling stream. Noises
+were now likewise heard in many directions, like the report of cannon,
+owing to the bursting of the ice at some distance.
+
+The Esquimaux drove with all haste towards the shore, as it plainly
+appeared the ice would break and disperse in the open sea. When the
+sledges approached the coast, the prospect before them was truly
+terrific. The ice, having broken loose from the rocks, was forced up
+and down, grinding and breaking into a thousand pieces against the
+precipices, with a tremendous noise, which, added to the raging of
+the wind, and the snow driving about in the air, nearly deprived the
+travellers of the power of hearing and seeing any thing distinctly.
+
+To make the land at any risk, was now the only hope left, but it was
+with the utmost difficulty the frighted dogs could be forced forward,
+the whole body of the ice sinking frequently below the rocks, then
+rising above them. As the only moment to land was that when the ice
+gained the level of the shore, the attempt was extremely nice and
+hazardous. However, by God's mercy, it succeeded; both sledges gained
+the shore, and were drawn up the beach, though with much difficulty.
+
+The travellers had hardly time to reflect with gratitude to God for
+their safety, when that part of the ice from which they had just now
+made good their landing, burst asunder, and the water forcing itself
+from below, covered and precipitated it into the sea. In an instant,
+the whole mass of ice, extending for several miles from the coast, and
+as far as the eye could reach, burst, and was overwhelmed by the rolling
+waves. The sight was tremendous and awfully grand; the large fields of
+ice raising themselves out of the water, striking against each other,
+and plunging into the deep, with a violence not to be described, and a
+noise like the discharge of innumerable batteries of heavy guns. The
+darkness of the night; the roaring of the wind and the sea, and the
+dashing of the waves and ice against the rocks, filled the travellers
+with sensations of awe and horror, so as almost to deprive them of the
+power of utterance. They stood overwhelmed with astonishment at their
+miraculous escape, and even the heathen Esquimaux expressed gratitude
+to God for their deliverance.
+
+The Esquimaux now began to build a hut with snow, about thirty paces
+from the beach, but before they had finished their work, the waves
+reached the place where the sledges were secured, and they were with
+difficulty saved from being washed into the sea. About nine o'clock
+all of them crept into the snow-house, thanking God for this place
+of refuge; for the wind was piercingly cold, and so violent, that it
+required great strength to stand against it.
+
+Before they entered this habitation, they could not help once more
+turning their eyes to the sea, which was now free from ice. They beheld
+with horror, mingled with gratitude for their safety, the enormous waves
+driving furiously before the wind and approaching the shore, where with
+dreadful noise they dashed against the rocks, foaming and filling the
+air with spray. The whole company now got their supper, and having sung
+an evening hymn in the Esquimaux language, lay down to rest about ten
+o'clock. The Esquimaux were soon fast asleep, but brother Liebisch
+could not get any rest, partly on account of the dreadful roaring of
+the wind, and partly owing to a sore throat, which gave him much pain.
+His wakefulness proved the deliverance of the whole party from sudden
+destruction. About two o'clock in the morning, he perceived some salt
+water dropping from the roof of the snow-house upon his lips. On a
+sudden, a tremendous wave broke close to the house, discharging a
+quantity of water into it; a second soon followed, and carried away
+the slab of snow placed as a door before the entrance. The missionaries
+having roused the sleeping Esquimaux, they instantly set to work, One of
+them with a knife cut a passage through the house, and each seizing some
+part of the baggage, threw it out on a higher part of the beach; brother
+Turner assisting them. Brother Liebisch and the woman and child fled
+to a neighbouring eminence. The latter were wrapt up by the Esquimaux
+in a large skin, and the former took shelter behind a rock, for it was
+impossible to stand against the wind, snow, and sleet. Scarcely had the
+company retreated, when an enormous wave carried away the whole house.
+
+They now found themselves a second time delivered from the most imminent
+danger of death; but the remaining part of the night, before the
+Esquimaux could seek and find another and safer place for a snow-house,
+were hours of great distress and very painful reflections. Before the
+day dawned, the Esquimaux cut a hole in a large drift of snow, to serve
+as a shelter to the woman and child and the two missionaries. Brother
+Liebisch, however, owing to the pain in his throat, could not bear the
+closeness of the air, and was obliged to sit down at the entrance,
+being covered with skins, to guard him against the cold. As soon as
+it was light, they built another snow-house, and miserable as such an
+accommodation must be, they were glad and thankful to creep into it.
+
+The missionaries had taken but a small stock of provisions with them,
+merely sufficient for the short journey to Okkak. Joel, his wife and
+child, and Kassigiak, a heathen sorcerer, who was with them, had
+nothing. They were obliged therefore to divide the small stock into
+daily portions, especially as there appeared no hopes of soon quitting
+this place and reaching any dwellings. They therefore resolved to serve
+out no more than a biscuit and a half per day to each. The missionaries
+remained in the snowhouse, and every day endeavoured to boil so much
+water over their lamps, as might supply them with two cups of coffee
+a-piece. Through mercy they were preserved in good health, and, quite
+unexpectedly, brother Liebisch recovered on the first day of his sore
+throat. The Esquimaux also kept up their spirits, and even Kassigiak,
+though a wild heathen, declared; that it was proper to be thankful that
+they were still alive; adding, that if they had remained a little longer
+on the ice yesterday all their bones would have been broken in a short
+time.
+
+Towards noon of the 13th, the weather cleared up, and the sea was seen
+as far as the eye could reach, quite clear and free from ice; but the
+weather being very stormy, the Esquimaux could not quit the snow-house,
+which made them very low-spirited and melancholy. They, however, possess
+one advantage, namely, the power of going to sleep when they please,
+and, if need be, they will sleep for days and night together.
+
+In the evening of the 15th, the sky became clear, and their hopes
+revived. Mark and Joel went out to reconnoitre, and reported that the
+ice had acquired a considerable degree of solidity, and might soon
+afford a safe passage. The poor dogs had now nearly fasted four days,
+but in the prospect of a speedy release, the missionaries allowed to
+each a few morsels of food. The temperature of the air having been
+rather mild, it occasioned new source of distress, for, from the warmth
+of the inhabitants, the roof of the snow-house began to melt, which
+occasioned a continual dropping, and by degrees made every thing soaking
+wet. The missionaries considered this the greatest hardship they had to
+endure, for they had not a dry thread about them, nor a dry place to
+lie in.
+
+On the 16th, early, the sky cleared, but the fine particles of snow were
+driven about like clouds. Their present distress dictated the necessity
+of venturing something to reach the habitations of men, and yet they
+were rather afraid of passing over the newly frozen sea, and could not
+determine what to do. Brother Turner went again with Mark to examine the
+ice, and both seemed satisfied that it had acquired sufficient strength.
+They therefore came to a final resolution to return to Nain, committing
+themselves to the protection of the Lord.
+
+Notwithstanding the wind had considerably increased, accompanied with
+heavy showers of snow and sleet, they ventured to set off at half past
+ten o'clock in the forenoon of the 19th. Mark ran all the way round
+Kiglapeit before the sledge to find a good track, and about one o'clock,
+through God's mercy, they were out of danger and reached the Bay.
+Here they found a good track upon smooth ice, and made a meal upon the
+remnant of their provisions. Thus refreshed, they resolved to proceed
+without stopping till they reached Nain, where they arrived at twelve
+o'clock at night.
+
+It may easily be conceived with what gratitude to God the whole family
+at Nain bade them welcome. During the storm, they had considered with
+some dread, what might be the fate of their brethren, though its
+violence was not felt so much there. Added to this, the hints of the
+Esquimaux had considerably increased their apprehensions for their
+safety, and their fears began to get the better of their hopes. All,
+therefore, joined most fervently in praise and thanksgiving to God,
+for this signal deliverance.
+
+For many years the conversion of the heathen in Labrador, not only
+proceeded very slowly, but was attended with many discouraging
+circumstances. The missionaries had patiently persevered in preaching to
+the natives, and watching every opportunity to make them attentive to
+the best interests of their soils: but reaped little fruit from their
+labours. Visits were frequent, and there was in general no want of
+hearers to address, but they showed no disposition to be instructed.
+If even a salutary impression was occasionally made on their minds, it
+was not abiding. Some families were indeed collected in the different
+settlements, but after staying there the winter, they mostly moved away
+again in summer, and apparently forgot all they had heard.
+
+Before the close of the year 1804, a new period commenced. A fire from
+the Lord was kindled among the Esquimaux, accompanied with the clearest
+evidence of being the effect of the operations of the divine Spirit on
+their hearts. It commenced at Hopedale, the very place which presented
+the most discouraging prospect.
+
+When the Esquimaux of that place returned from their summer excursions,
+the missionaries were delighted to find, that they not only had been
+preserved from sinful practices, but had greatly increased in the
+knowledge of divine truth. They had obtained an humbling insight into
+the corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, and the wretched state
+of a person void of faith in Christ. This constrained them to cry for
+mercy, and gladly to accept salvation on the terms of the gospel: and
+some afforded encouraging hopes, that they had found forgiveness of sins
+in the blood of Christ, by which their souls were filled with peace
+in believing. Out of the abundance of the heart their mouths spake of
+the love and power of Jesus. Their artless but energetic declarations
+impressed the rest of the inhabitants. They began to feel the necessity
+of true conversion; and in a short time all the adults appeared
+earnestly to seek peace with God. Even several of the children were
+awakened. The missionaries were daily visited by people, who either
+inquired "what they must do to be saved," or testified of the grace of
+God manifested to their souls.
+
+The progress of the mission, in the sequel, supplies sufficient proof,
+that the effect of the gospel, just related, was not a wild fire, or the
+mere consequence of a momentary impression, but a divine work wrought in
+the hearts of the natives by the Spirit of God himself. The missionaries
+frequently mention the attention and diligence shown in the schools,
+both by adults, and children, and the delight and fervour with which
+they engage in their family devotions, and in conversations with each
+other respecting the influence of the gospel on their own souls. Their
+behaviour at public worship likewise very strikingly differed from that
+of former years, with regard to the eagerness with which they now
+attended the house of God, and their deportment during the performance
+of divine service. On one occasion the missionaries remark, "We no
+longer see bold, undaunted heathen sitting before us, with defiance or
+ridicule in their looks; but people expecting, a blessing, desirous to
+experience the power of the word of life, shedding tears of repentance,
+and their whole appearance evincing devotion and earnest inquiry."
+
+Christians! does not this narrative present us with some useful subjects
+for reflection?
+
+
+London: Printed for THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14014 ***