for us, and the floor covered with bears’ skins.  As we had not tasted any thing warm the whole day, we got some coffee, after which we put our beds in order—­these consist of a sack of rein-deers’ skin with the hair inmost, and a sack of seals’ skin drawn over it—­it is just large enough to admit one person, who first slips in his feet, and gradually inserts the whole body, which, when fairly in, soon gets comfortably warm.  The day after, we invited the Esquimaux to a meeting, when, after singing a hymn, brother Sturman saluted them in the most affectionate manner; assured them of our constant remembrance and prayers; then begged them to consider their present happy circumstances, and reminded them that but a few years since they were heathens, living in deplorable ignorance of their Creator and Redeemer, and without hope of that eternal happiness which he hath purchased for us.  The tears of many shewed the joy of their hearts in believing.  We intimated to them that, during our stay, we would have prayers morning and evening.”

The promontory of Apparnaviarsak, where our Esquimaux were, is joined to the continent of Kangertluksoak, on which their winter houses were built.  Between the rocks, the ground is everywhere covered with grass, the snow was already melted, and the young grass began most beautifully to shoot up.  The spring appeared to be much earlier here than at Okkak, where, at present, every thing was covered with deep snow; the mountains are not so steep, the land lies lower and nearer the open sea:  but the flat where the houses of the Esquimaux are, is surrounded by numerous small islands.  From the declivity behind, in many places the open sea can be seen, with the promontory of Saeglak, the distance to which is only about 5 or 6 hours, with a good sledge path; consequently, it appeared admirably adapted for a mission station.  Saeglak would afford excellent fishing ground for our people, should the heathen leave it, which must very soon happen, as within these last few years, the inhabitants of these parts have greatly diminished, many of them coming to reside among us.  Upon the whole, from all that we have heard or seen, Kangertluksoak is one of the best fishing places, and as some remain here the whole year, we can have the Esquimaux more with us than at any of the other settlements.  There are, however, many other advantages we must give up here; the nearest forest lies to the south of Nappartok, and is about eighteen or twenty miles distant, the nearest road by land; by water it is greater.  While we sent the Esquimaux for the frame of our little house, which lay about half an hour’s journey from this, we went to take a view of the place, near the winter houses of the Esquimaux.  Adjoining these, at a little distance from the beach, we found a plain sufficiently large for buildings, gardens, &c.; and after we had examined all the country round the river, we resolved to erect our little dwelling here, and our Esquimaux having brought the wood, it