Nain and Okkak were mercifully spared this year, and in the grand object of their labours the brethren had still occasion to bless the Lord that he graciously owned the preaching of the glad tidings of salvation, and accompanied it with power and the demonstration of his Spirit:  often was his presence powerfully felt, particularly when, from time to time, individuals were added to the church by baptism, or when they partook of the holy sacrament of our Lord’s body and blood, in fellowship together.

The outward circumstances of the missions in Labrador this year were uncommonly prosperous—­they sent to England upwards of 100 tons of blubber, 2000 seals’ skins, and 2750 fox skins.

CHAPTER VII.

 Desire of the heathen to hear the Gospel.—­Brethren meditate a new
   settlement—­voyage to explore the country.—­Quiet course of the
   mission—­advantages of their church discipline.—­Death of
   Burghardt.—­Exertions of the aged survivors.—­Schreiber,
   superintendant, arrives.—­Anxiety of the native Christians to
   attend the ordinances of religion.—­Advantages of the Bible as a
   school-book.—­Four missionaries unexpectedly carried to
   England.—­Baptized Esquimaux seduced by traders.—­Perilous
   voyage of the returning missionaries.—­striking
   accident.—­Schreiber retires from the
   superintendance—­Kohlmeister succeeds—­his journeyings to Okkak,
   to Nain.—­Stability of the work of God at Nain—­hopeful
   deaths—­conversion and recovery of a young native.—­Remarkable
   preservation of an Esquimaux youth.

Ever since the settlement of the brethren on the east coast of Labrador, scarcely a year had passed, without their being visited by great numbers of Esquimaux from the north, either for the purposes of traffic or curiosity; and latterly, to visit their friends and acquaintances who had become residents.  From these strangers, the missionaries obtained much interesting information respecting the inhabitants along the coast; they were told that the most considerable part of the nation dwelt beyond Cape Chudleigh, lat. 60 deg. 17 m., called by them Killineck; that accounts of the settlement had reached them, and that they were desirous of teachers to instruct them in the good words.  When some of these natives were asked by the brethren to remain and settle with them, they expressed a great inclination to have done so, but urged as an objection, the difficulty of procuring food for their families, and requested the missionaries rather to come to them, where they could be easily able to obtain a comfortable supply.  The brethren, in consequence, had long meditated a new settlement, and the Society for the furtherance of the Gospel had repeatedly consulted with them about the best plan for carrying their wishes into execution.  Various obstacles had, however, always prevented any effectual steps being taken, till, in consequence of repeated invitations, it became a subject of serious consideration, by what means a more correct idea of the extent and dwelling places of the Esquimaux nation might be obtained, and a general wish was expressed, that one or more of the missionaries would undertake the perilous task of visiting such places as were reported to contain more inhabitants than the southern coast, but remained unknown to European navigators.