As hunger now began to torment the party, the brethren were exposed to great anxiety, suffering, and danger, from the perpetual importunity of the Esquimaux for provisions, which they had no means of supplying, but which they supposed they were the means of their being deprived of obtaining.  An old man began to cry, “Torngak moves me to say that he will tell us the cause of this storm, and the breaking of the ice, and the loss of the whale.”  “Let us hear,” said they.  “O! the sinews!  O! the sinews!” replied he.

Rein-deer sinews are what, according to the superstition of the country, dare not be brought near a whale.  But the brethren that morning had plaited some whale sinew, and fastened the haft of the ax with which they intended to cut up the whale; and he, supposing that they had been the sinews of the rein-deer, raised the cry.  Being informed of his mistake, he changed his tone and exclaimed, “O! the rotten wood!  O! the rotten wood!” Rotten wood is expressly forbid to be burnt in the preparation of food, but Jans Haven had brought some pieces in a sledge along with the rest of the fuel; the Esquimaux, to whom the sledge belonged, had carefully picked it out and thrown it away, and the conjurer was informed that in this also he was mistaken.  He was then called upon to say, as he affirmed that Torngak was there, how he could be mistaken.  With an ingenuity that would have done credit to a Jesuit, he answered, “There is one present that keeps us back, he cannot go with us.”  Every person in the company being mentioned, he pointed out Jans Haven.  Haven immediately rose, and looking the sorcerer full in the face, prayed to the Saviour to stop the mouth of that wicked one.  Struck with the unexpected intrepidity of the missionary, and the appeal to a name of which they all had some knowledge, the Angekok was utterly confounded; he grumbled and foamed, but could not utter a word.  Providentially at this very moment two persons arrived with intelligence that the whale was lying safe, and had not been driven away; and Haven, charging the fellow with his imposture and lies, commanded him not to attempt accompanying them, or removing from the place where he was.  The astonished sorcerer made no attempt to disobey.

The weather increasing in severity, the Esquimaux, who were confined to their huts, came to their favourite Jans Haven, saying, “Tell us about the Saviour.”  Jans answered and said—­“What shall I say?  I know not what to say; I am grieved because I am constrained to hear and see that the wicked spirit yet dwells within you and robs you of your senses.  He will hold your ears that you may not hear the love the Saviour has for you, that after death you may dwell with him in utter darkness.  Yet listen to our words and follow us to the Saviour, who will wash you from your sins in his own blood, that you may live eternally happy with him, after you have left a world where sorrow and pleasure are mingled together; where we must suffer hunger, and thirst,