The slate is extremely shivery, and is found in slabs, either lying or standing upright from four to eight feet square, most easily splitting into thin plates.  Ascending the mountain, they are soon dislodged, by the tread of a man’s foot, and glide down towards the beach with a rattling, tinkling noise.  At low water, we noticed a bed of stone resembling cast iron, of a reddish hue, and polished by the friction of the water.  After supping on salmon-trout, caught in the first-mentioned river, we retired to rest; but had some fears even here for the safety of our boat, the ice pushing in towards us, and our people being employed day and night in warding off the large shoals with their boat-hooks.

4th.  The weather being fair, Brother Kmoch ascended to the top of the highest part of the mountain near us, from whence he could see nothing but drift-ice, powerfully in motion towards the bay.  Four of our Esquimaux went up the country to hunt reindeer; saw eight head and two fawns; but got none.

Perceiving that our abode in this place might be of some duration, we for the first time pitched our tents on shore.  Our morning and evening devotion was attended by the whole party; and on Sundays we read the Litany, and conducted the service in the usual way, which proved to us and our Esquimaux of great comfort and encouragement in all difficulties.  We were detained here, by the ice, from the 3d to the 15th, and our faith and patience were frequently put to the trial.  Meanwhile we found much pleasure in walking up the declivities of the hills, and into the fine green and flowery vallies around us.

5th.  We went up the western extremity of the bay, but found nothing worth notice.  Here the rocks appeared to be of a species of freestone.

6th.  In the evening we met in Jonathan’s tent.  Brother Kohlmeister addressed the company, and reminded them, that to-day the holy communion would be celebrated in our congregations, which we could not do in this place, under present circumstances.  Then kneeling down, he offered up a fervent prayer, entreating the Lord not to forget us in this wilderness, but to give us to feel His all-reviving presence, and to feed our hungry and thirsty souls, out of the fulness of His grace.  A comfortable sense of His love and peace filled all our hearts on this occasion.

In the evening, Paul began to read out of the Harmony of the four Evangelists, which we shall continue as often as circumstances will admit of it.  Jonathan and Jonas generally conduct the daily morning and evening worship.

7th.  We were so hard pressed by the ice driving towards us, that we were obliged in part to unload the boat, to be able to bring it into a safer situation in shallow water; and took our turns, three relieving three, to watch and guard off the larger shoals with boat-hooks, by day and night.  We were glad to have reached a place, sheltered on all sides from the wind.