When brother Kohlmeister was in Europe, it was arranged with the Synodal Committee for the management of the missions of the United Brethren, that an exploratory voyage should be undertaken, for which Kohlmeister made preparation on his return to Labrador, and on the 17th of June, he and brother Kmoch set out from Okkak.  The vessel engaged for the arduous undertaking, was a two masted shallop, 45 feet long, 12 broad, and 5 deep, belonging to Jonathan, (vide p. 213) who also accompanied them as their captain.  Jonathan was a man of superior understanding and skill, possessed of uncommon intrepidity, and looked up to, at Hopedale, as the chief of his nation.  It was therefore no small sacrifice on his part, to agree to leave, for an indefinite time, the place where he was so much respected; but he was ready to forsake all, and enter on an expedition of unknown length and peril, in the hope that it would be a means of introducing the gospel among his countrymen.  The greater part of the other Esquimaux thought the voyage impracticable, and an old Angekok predicted that if the adventurers did not perish in the violent currents that set in round Cape Chudleigh, they most certainly would never return.

But none of these dark forebodings made any impression on the mind of Jonathan.  When told that the wild heathen would kill him, he generally answered, “Well we will try, we shall know better when we get there;” and once, when conversing with the missionaries, who were not altogether without apprehension, remarked, “When I hear people talking about the danger of being killed, I think—­Jesus went to death out of love to us; what great matter would it be, if we were to be put to death in his service, should that be his good pleasure concerning us.”  Nor did his conduct belie his profession:  under all circumstances, during the voyage, his firm, cheerful faithfulness, proved honourable to his character as a true convert.  Besides the missionaries, the expedition consisted of four Esquimaux families from Hopedale, and one from Okkak, who attended with a skin, or woman’s boat, in case of any accident befalling the shallop, and to be used in landing, as the larger vessel could never safely be brought close to the shore—­in all eighteen persons.

As they coasted along, they met several Christian Esquimaux, who were scattered at different summer provision places.  At Kangerlualuksoak, sixty miles north of Okkak, a fishing station, with a fine strand and excellent harbour, where they rested on the 30th, [Lord’s day,] the missionaries went on shore, and visited the Christian families, whom they assembled together for public worship.  The congregation amounted to about fifty, including the boat’s company.  Brother Kohlmeister addressed them, and expressed his hope that they were all walking worthy of their Christian profession—­presenting a good example to their heathen neighbours.  A number of strangers sat as listeners, and the missionaries