12

GOSPEL FRUITS ON THE SHORES OF HUDSON'S BAY.

[JAN. hunting and fishing expeditions, take with them portions of Scripture in the syllabic characters, which they have learned to read and write, and remember God in the far-off wilderness. Short is the wintry day, and little do they enjoy of the bright sunshine: cold, intensely cold, are the long nights, of which, not unfrequently, an insufficiency of food makes them more keenly sensible: but they enjoy the presence of Him who illuminates and warms the hearts of His people, and enables them to understand that "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word of God." From no part of the world do we receive more cheering accounts than from our Missionary at Moose Fort, the Rev. J. Horden; and where the power of germination in natural seed is paralysed, the seed of the kingdom yields abundantly. We have gleaned a few specimens from Mr. Horden's journals, which we give to our readers.

May 20, 1855: Lord's-day- An interesting Sabbath. Our little church, at the Indian services, was quite crammed. A large number partook of the Lord's supper, although all the communicants are not in.

May 23-I met the Indians this evening, for the last time previous to their departure to the portage, when I gave them advice applicable to their circumstances. Several of them prayed; and their prayers were characterised by that humbleness of soul and fervency of spirit which should proceed from those who, knowing their own helplessness and depravity, know, likewise, where to obtain help.

June 3: Lord's-day-Although most of the Indians are off, our little church appeared almost full, and we had a most happy day. In the evening, with Mrs. Horden, I visited those members of my flock who, through sickness, were unable to attend the sanctuary; and was very thankful to observe the calm cheerfulness of those who for some time have been confined to a bed of sickness. It was pleasant too, now that the evening was drawing on, to hear several sweet voices joining in praise to God, which, I trust, proceeded from their hearts. I was detained outside one tent, in which lay Wemistikos' wife, as I was not willing to interrupt those who were within during their singing. When I entered I found five or six persons, who, having been to the church themselves, had come to relate what they had heard to the afflicted one, and to allay her sorrow by singing to her "one of the songs of Zion."

July 5-The day was mostly spent as yesterday. In the afternoon I went to see a sick woman, to whom I yesterday administered some medicine, and on entering was happy to hear the inmates of several tents reading their books. I drew near, heard them read, and corrected any inaccuracies into which they fell. But if that delighted me, how much more was I gratified on looking into a kettle which was hanging over the fire in a tent occupied by an old couple. I asked what was in it; and they said it was a kind of rice, which they cut up and boiled, and on which they subsisted; and that this had been their only food for some time, as they were desirous of remaining as long as possible for the purpose of being instructed. What privation of the body for the benefit of the soul! But our Saviour saith, "Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."

VOL. VI. NEW SERIES.

WINTER AT FORT GEORGE, RUPERT'S LAND.

We are in the midst of our wintry season. The power of cold is making itself felt, and they who go forth on their business wrap themselves in warm clothing. Home, with its cheerful fireside, is welcome, and the snow that falls without causes a keener relish of its comforts.

C

PREPARATIONS FOR PITCHING THE TENT.-See p. 16.

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WINTER AT FORT GEORGE, RUPERT'S LAND.

[FEB.

It is at this season of the year, that, in the publications of the Society, we bring before our friends a cold and wintry Mission, that of Rupert's Land, where the winter is far more intense and prolonged than with us, and home comforts far less. Eight months of frost and snow! In six weeks more we shall be looking for the outbreak of spring. It will be between three and four months from the present date before the winter's snow in Rupert's Land begins to clear away, and then a quick summer, expending itself in the brief period of three months, crowds together seed-time, growingtime, and harvest; and, having hurried through its functions, disappears. There is something appropriate in introducing the Rupert's-Land Missions at this particular season. Perhaps in summer we should be less able to realize what the poor Indians and their Missionaries have to endure during the intensity of winter's reign.

In this brief paper we have to notice one Station, the most dreary and remote of all, Fort George, on the east coast of James' Bay. There are placed the Rev. E. A. and Mrs. Watkins; and one extract from the journal of this Missionary will help us to realize what a stern winter reigns around. We select it because it not only tells us of suffering, but of kind hearts in England, whose welcome contributions of clothing have placed our Missionary in a position to help the needy.

Jan. 1, 1855-This afternoon I had the opportunity of bestowing upon a destitute Indian a New-year's gift from some kind Missionary friend in England, though probably the donors did not think that the garments they made would be given away exactly upon this occasion. Through their liberality I was enabled to add greatly to the comfort of a poor widow and her two children, who arrived at the Fort yesterday in a truly pitiable condition. They were all most miserably clothed, whilst the woman had suffered most sadly from the intense frost, which is now unusually severe, the thermometer having been, during the last few days, as low as 40° below zero. The whole left side of the poor creature's body had been frozen, and her face was in a sad state of suffering from the same cause. It was quite providential that she escaped being frozen to death: a little longer exposure to the cold would doubtless have terminated her earthly existence. We do feel thankful that Christian liberality enables us to relieve the sufferings of such

extreme cases.

There is here encouragement to the Dorcas institutions throughout the country, who are, we trust, actively engaged in getting up, amidst the comforts of our English homes, a plentiful supply of clothing for the Rupert's-Land stations. How grateful such gifts to the Missionary, for what more trying than to see want, and not be able to relieve it? How welcome to the poor Indian, whose heart beats with new hope as he feels the unaccustomed warmth of the well-made garment, and, tasting thus the pleasant fruits of Christianity, prepares himself the more readily to receive instruction in its truths. Let each member of a Dorcas institution, as she

1856.]

WINTER AT FORT GEORGE, RUPERT'S LAND.

15

toils over some stiff and unyielding piece of work, very different from the delicate touch of Berlin wool, just think that her toil will yield pleasure to some poor wanderer in the far-off ends of the earth, and realize the moment when the warm flannel shall be transferred as a welcome gift to some poor shivering Indian. But we must give another extract, which again tells of human suffering. On the 17th of January one of the Company's servants, and an Indian, arrived at the Fort from Little Whale River. Amongst other information brought, we received the sad tidings of the sudden death of four members of an Eskimo family last autumn. During my visit in the summer I had the opportunity of instructing them upon several occasions; but little did I think, that, as it was the first, so also it would be the last time of announcing to them the saving truths of the gospel. It appears that the father of the family, a man considerably advanced in years, had been suffering for some time from a wound in his leg, but which was not of such a nature as to cause any apprehension. He had received English provisions from the Company's establishment for some days, and appeared to be recovering his health, when the intelligence was brought from his tent, situated on the rocks at the mouth of the river, that he was dangerously ill. Assistance could not then be sent, as the banks were covered with ice, which rendered it unsafe for a canoe to be placed in the water. On the second day, however, a courageous Eskimo, at the great hazard of his life, most nobly ventured to visit his friend, and accomplished his errand of mercy by paddling his canoe down the river, and going a long distance out to sea, then returning, and running into a small creek near the tent. Upon arriving, he found a far different spectacle from that which he had expected, for the old man was now dead, and near to his body lay that of his sister and of two children. The only surviving human beings were a boy about fifteen years old, and his sister, some years younger, were thus, in the short space of two days, deprived of their father, their aunt, and two brothers. The cause of the sudden death of these poor creatures is not clearly understood, but it is supposed to have been the eating of some putrid carcases of the whales killed during the summer. One cheering thought connected with this melancholy event is, that these immortal souls, now in eternity, had the glad tidings of a Saviour's dying love set before them during my summer's visit. It may be that a gracious God touched their hearts with the message to which they paid so marked an attention; yet it is sad to reflect that they heard but once of the mercy of a Saviour, and were then suddenly called to appear before Him as their Judge. Oh, how important the lesson thus taught to myself and my brother Missionaries in this country, where opportunities of usefulness are so few, that we should "work while it is day!" May our God bestow the needful grace!

who

And that courageous Eskimo, who risked so much to help his brother in distress, is he not an example? Shall we not do more to save souls? Yet he risked his life to save the body from death, and adventured himself, in a frail canoe, into the midst of the wintry sea. Who, then, is prepared to follow his example, and give himself, his health, and life, to the blessed work of helping those who

16

FUH-CHAU FUH.

[FEB.

are perishing in heathenism? There are opportunities of Missionary service. They are, like the canoe, waiting some loving heart and bold hand to embark therein and go forth, though it be on a wintry sea, to help the helpless. Who will go?

One of the most interesting features of the Fort-George station is, that it affords opportunity of communicating with the Eskimo nation. Mr. Watkins has residing with him an Eskimo called Peter, whom he has been the happy instrument of bringing to the knowledge of the truth; and Peter, who speaks English well, is very useful to him, as an instructor in the Eskimo language, and as an intrepreter to his countrymen. In March last Mr. Watkins proceeded to visit a post 240 miles northward, where he hoped to meet a considerable number of the Eskimo. He was accompanied by Peter and a party of his people, and two sleds, drawn by seven dogs, carried the Missionary and provisions. This journey occupied sixteen days, amidst extreme cold, piercing winds, and horrid drifts of snow. At the termination of the first day's journey the Eskimo soon housed themselves in igloes, or snow houses. Our Missionary had brought with him an Indian deer-skin tent, but to pitch this was no easy matter. The snow lay four feet deep. First of all, therefore, they had to clear a circular place ten or eleven feet in diameter. To this work our Missionary, assisted by one of the Eskimo women, addressed himself, using his snow-shoe as a shovel; but, his feet being thus deprived of the broad support it gave him, he sank knee-deep in the snow, and in that awkward position he was obliged to work. Meanwhile Peter was cutting down slender pines for tent-poles, and another brought brushwood, which, when the hole in the snow was completed, was spread on the floor to serve as a bed, and piled up against the circular wall of snow around, to prevent its being melted by the heat of the fire. The tent-poles were then placed round the edge of the excavation, their upper ends coming to a point over the centre. On this framework the tent was spread; then dry wood procured, a fire kindled, the blankets spread, cooking utensils and provisions brought from the sled, and our Missionary's house was complete. It had, however, many inconveniences: the smoke caused many tears, and the body of the inmate was far from enjoying an equable temperature, for the front towards the fire was half roasted, while the back was nearly as cold as the snow-heap around. We cannot be surprised if, the next night, the Missionary dispensed with the tent, and took up his lodging in the snow-house. But we must break off, with the hope of telling our readers more in our next Number.

FUH-CHAU FUH.

THE Rev. Messrs. Cummings and Baldwin, Missionaries of the American Board, have made excursions to Tuong-loh, some eighteen

See our Frontispiece.