A remarkable preservation of another Esquimaux youth, was likewise the cause of much joy at Hopedale.  On the 10th of June, 1819, this lad had been carried out to sea upon a flake of ice, which separated from the main mass in a terrible storm, and was given up for lost.  He, however, after having, for some time, been driven about, gained the larger body of drift ice, and was carried towards an island, on which he landed.  Here he staid about two months.  He had only a gun, a small knife, and a few pieces of cord with him, but neither powder nor shot.  Of the cord he made nooses and caught eider-ducks, by which, and their eggs, he kept himself alive; in the night, he crept under an overhanging rock to sleep.  At length he discovered a piece of wood floating to the shore; of this he made an oar, and, getting on a flake of ice, rowed himself to an island nearer the main land, whence he reached two more islands nearer still.  About the beginning of August, he observed two boats steering towards the south, and made signals:  these were not noticed by the first, which passed on; but the second approached and took him in.  They were southlanders from Kippolak, with whom he was obliged to go on to the south, and remain there till the ice was strong enough to admit of his travelling to Hopedale.  He removed thence to Okkak, where he most unexpectedly arrived, to the astonishment of all his relations, who received him as one from the dead.  He declared that in his banishment from human society, Jesus had been his hope and refuge, though the prospect before him was indeed terrific.  While he gave this account of his escape, his eyes overflowed with tears of joy and gratitude; and at the conclusion of his narrative, he said to brother Kohlmeister—­“Benjamin!  I declare to you that I was never alone; Jesus was always with me, and I will ever follow Jesus, and belong to him in time and eternity.”

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote I:  The Journal of the Voyage, illustrated with a map, was published in a separate form.  London, 1814.]

[Footnote J:  “The children and young people have given us much pleasure; they have made good progress in reading, and often speak to us of the pleasure it affords them to be able to read the Scriptures at home.”—­Periodical Accounts, vol. 6 p. 241.]

[Footnote K:  This bird is about the size of a starling, black, with white and yellow spots, flies about a ship chiefly in the night, and is known by its singular notes, which resemble a loud laugh.]

CHAPTER VIII.

 Fiftieth anniversary of the missionary vessel’s first arrival in
   Labrador—­jubilee of the mission celebrated at Nain.—­Summary
   view of the success of the gospel in Labrador during that
   period.—­Instance of maternal affection.—­Esquimaux contribute
   to the Bible Society.—­British sloop of war, Clinker, visits
   Hopedale.—­Captain Martin’s testimony to the good effect of the
   brethren’s labours—­visits Nain and Okkak—­consequences of his
   favourable report.