of no use, but that the weather would become favourable as soon as it should please God.  Kassigiak then asked, “Whether Jesus could make good weather?” He was told that to Jesus was given all power in heaven and in earth, upon which he demanded that he should be applied to.  Another time he said, I shall tell my countrymen at Seglek enough about you, how well you bear this misfortune.  The missionaries replied, “Tell them that in the midst of this affliction, we placed our only hope and trust in Jesus Christ, our Saviour, who loves all mankind, and has shed his blood to redeem them from eternal misery.”  To-day the Esquimaux began to eat an old filthy and worn out skin, which had served them for a mattress.

On the 15th the weather continued extremely boisterous, and the Esquimaux appeared every now and then to sink under disappointment.  But they possess a good quality, namely, a power of going to sleep when they please, and if need be they will sleep for days and nights together.

In the evening, the sky became clear and their hope revived.  Mark and Joel went out to reconnoitre, and brought word that the ice had acquired a considerable degree of solidity, and might soon be fit for use.  The poor dogs had meanwhile fasted for near four days, but now, in the prospect of a speedy release, the missionaries allowed to each a few morsels of food.  The temperature of the air having been rather mild, it occasioned a new source of distress; for by the warm exhalations of the inhabitants, the roof of the snow-house got to be in a melting state, which occasioned a continual dropping, and by degrees made every thing soaking wet.  The missionaries report, that they considered this the greatest hardship they had to endure, for they had not a dry thread about them, nor a dry place to lie down in.

On the 16th the sky cleared, but the fine particles of snow were driven about like clouds.  Joel and Kassigiak resolved to pursue their journey to Okkak by the way of Nuasornak, and set out with the wind and snow full in their faces.  Mark could not resolve to proceed farther north, because, in his opinion, the violence of the wind had driven the ice off the coast at Tikkerarsuk, so as to render it impossible to land; but he thought he might proceed to the south with safety, and get round Kiglapeit.  The missionaries endeavoured to persuade him to follow the above mentioned company to Okkak; but it was in vain, and they did not feel at liberty to insist upon it, not being sufficiently acquainted with the circumstances.  Their present distress dictated the necessity of venturing something to reach the habitations of men, and yet they were rather afraid of passing over the newly frozen sea under Kiglapiet, and could not immediately determine what to do.  Brother Turner, therefore, went again with Mark to examine the ice, and both seemed satisfied that it would hold.  They therefore came at last to a resolution to return to Nain, and commit themselves