to sea in her, to search for drift-wood among the islands, they were overtaken by a storm, and though they reached home with much difficulty, yet in the night, their boat with her whole cargo of wood, was carried off by the wind. Some Greenlanders indeed brought her back in a few days, but she was greatly damaged. They obtained little by fishing and hunting, not being accustomed to these occupations, and unable to adopt the method practised by the natives, as they could not manage their kajak. Considering these adverse circumstances, as a warning, not to enter too deeply into the cares and pursuits of this life; they came to a resolution, when other work failed them, to earn something by spinning.

The acquisition of the Greenland language, was another difficulty they had to encounter. Mr. Egede, indeed, afforded them all the assistance in his power, but to men like our missionaries, whose education had been confined to that of a common school, it proved no easy task. Unacquainted with the very terms of grammar, the application of them to a barbarous language, became doubly difficult, especially as that language contains a variety of declensions and conjugations, diversified by new moods, and perplexed by suffixes, both active and passive. They had besides to commit to memory a large vocabulary of words, as the Greenlanders have often ten different words to express the same thing. And if to this be added, that before they could understand their instructers, they had to learn the Danish language, their patience and rance will appear truly great.

perseve

As yet, they had few opportunities to engage in their proper calling. They wisely resolved not to enter into conversation on religious subjects with the natives for the present, lest their deficiency in the language should lead them to employ phrases, which might convey erroneous ideas of divine things. The Greenlanders, indeed, shewed but little disposition to hold much intercourse with them, for though nearly two thousand lived at that time on Ball's river, they spent most of the summer among the islands and hills, for the purpose of catching seals and hunting reindeer; and during the winter, they were

accustomed to go sixty and even two hundred leagues to the north or south to visit their acquaintances. Few of them therefore called upon our brethren; and if any did come, it was chiefly to see their buildings, or to beg nails, fish-hooks, knives, and other articles, or even to steal them. If our missionaries visited them, they seldom found any one willing to lodge and entertain them, even though offered a recompense for it; and instead of entering into discourse with them, they were continually asking, whether they would not soon go away again?

A trial, severer than any of these, was permitted to exercise their faith and fortitude, at the very beginning of their labours. A few months after their arival, the smallpox broke out among the natives. As this disease was unusual in the country, it was not understood at first, neither could the savages be prevailed upon to apply proper remedies, or use any kind of precaution to prevent the progress of the infection. The contagion, therefore, spread rapidly, and made such ravages as threatened the total depopulation of the country. It continued from September, 1733, to the following June, and spread forty leagues north of the Danish colony, and probably as many south. In the district of Ball's river only eight recovered, and Mr. Egede computed that the number of the natives, carried off by this distemper, amounted, probably, to two or three thousand.

The misery endured by the Greenlanders at this period, is inconceivable. Tormented by excruciating pain, a raging fever and burning thirst, their patience entirely forsook them, they would neither take medicine, nor use any regimen. The consequence was, few survived the third day. Some stabbed themselves or plunged into the sea to terminate their sufferings, and others fled to desert islands. In one of these our missionaries found only one little girl, with the small pox upon her, and her three little brothers. The father, having first buried all the people in that place, laid himself and his youngest sick child in a tomb, erected of stones, and ordered his daughter to cover them with skins and stones, that they might not be devoured by foxes and ravens; and then gave her and her brothers two seals

and some dried herrings to live upon, till they could get to the Europeans.

During this dreadful period our missionaries faithfully assisted Mr. Egede in visiting and taking care of the sick. The former lodged all that fled to him, and the latter accommodated as many in their house, as they had room for. But they were grieved to perceive that this severe affliction, generally speaking, made no salutary impression upon the natives, and excited no concern in them for the future and everlasting state of their souls. In a few instances, however, their kindness touched the savages, as it exceeded what they could have expected from their own countrymen. One man, in particular, who had always derided them in the days of health, made this confession before his end to Mr. Egede: "You have done for us what our own people would not do, for you have fed us when we had nothing to eat; you have buried our dead, who would else have been devoured by the dogs, foxes and ravens; you have also instructed us in the knowledge of God, and have told us of a better life." In some children also, whom he had baptized, he perceived resignation to death and a comfortable hope of a resurrection to life eternal.

No sooner had our missionaries finished their labour of love to the poor, sick and dying Greenlanders, than they were themselves attacked by a violent eruptive disorder, which so increased in the winter, that they nearly lost the use of their limbs. Povidentially, however, they were not both confined at the same time. Mr. Egede behaved towards them like a father and friend, and his excellent wife never omitted sending them some refreshment or cordial, when she had any herself; indeed so great was her kindness, that they were often scrupulous of accepting her presents.

Amidst such accumulated trials did our missionaries commence their career in Greenland; yet, though their ardour might at times be damped, their zeal was not extinguished. This is evident from their own declarations. In letters addressed to their brethren in Europe, they ex

"The present

press themselves to the following effect: circumstances (referring to the contagion) appear mysterious. We know not what to pray for, whether for the life or death of these poor creatures. Perhaps God intends to preserve a holy seed in a few persons, as he did at the deluge. May the Lord teach us to believe and venerate the secret purposes of his will. At present we are in the school of faith, and the prospect before us is clouded and almost dark. We perceive no traces of any good work begun among the heathen; no, not so much as a sigh, and the poor creatures find death where they should find life. As far as respects ourselves, appearances are equally discouraging. We have not the strength and vigour of body, requisite for enduring the hardships of this country, and at present we suffer much from sickness; yet we have a persuasion that this may eventually tend to enure our constitutions to the climate, and qualify us for the Lord's service in this country. We are conscious of our total insufficiency in ourselves; every good of mere natural growth, even our alacrity in learning the language seems to droop, and nothing remains but what grace hath wrought. The Lord best knows, why he called to this station the most feeble and inexperienced of his servants. However we will remain on our post, and vie with each other in the exercise of faith, though the prospect presents us with nothing but apparent impossibilities: yes, here we will stay till Jesus our Lord helps us; and our only concern shall be to please Him. We have one unfailing source of hope and comfort, that God often suffers his children to pass through straits to attain the object in view, and that we are remembered in prayer by many children of God in Europe *."

Thus passed the first year of their abode in these polar regions, and for the five succeeding years their circumstances, both as to externals and their principal aim in coming to the country, were not materially altered for the better. It is not surprising, therefore, that they should at times be ready to lose courage and even consider it more advisable to return to Europe. But when in the year

Crantz, Vol. i. p. 339.

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1734 two new assistants, Frederick Boenish and John Beck arrived and brought them the joyful intelligence, that it was the intention of the brethren at Herrnhut to support the mission to the utmost of their power, their drooping faith was revived, and the flame of holy zeal in their arduous service rekindled.

They now redoubled their diligence in learning the language, and by indefatigable perseverance conquered the principal difficulties; and so far became masters of it, as to understand the natives, and converse with them on common topics; but when they wished to speak with them on religious subjects, they were greatly embarrassed; nor could they in this respect obtain much assistance from their instructers, who told them that it would not be possible to translate any, but historical pieces from scripture; as the Greenlanders had no terms for expressing spiritual and divine subjects, and could not even form the least idea of them. In some time, however, by the help of God and frequent intercourse with the natives, they overcame this last and most formidable obstacle to their usefulness.

Our missionaries continued to make frequent visits among the natives; and as they were still defective in the language, they read to them some pieces, translated by Mr. Egede, such as the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer and the Creed: reminded them of what he had formerly told them of the creation of the world, and the redemption of man, and tried to rectify what they had misapprehended. They readily gave their assent to these things, but as yet attained no saving knowledge of divine truth. Once, when Matthew Stach read a short prayer to them, they observed that the language indeed was very good and intelligible, but they could not comprehend the meaning of the words, Jesus Christ, of being redeemed by his blood, and of knowing, loving and receiving him. By these visits, however, they gained one point of no small importance. Their free and affable, but yet prudent and serious deportment, equally removed from unbecoming levity and austere moroseness, won the esteem and confidence of the natives, so that they sought their company, constrained them to come into their houses, requested