18 SHIPWRECKED SAILORS AND CHRISTIAN ESQUIMAUX. [FEB. pleasure of seeing the son of our good friend the Queen of England; and seeing him this day is a proof to us of the Queen's regard for us and this colony, and of His Excellency's respect and kindness to us in inviting us here. What we have seen to-day is more than all our forefathers have scen-one of the royal children of England. It is our hearts' desire to be on terms of goodwill with the Queen and all her subjects. We are all astonished, that, after the great sickness in this colony last year, the Queen of England should so care for us as to send her son to visit us." We cannot here refrain from relating an incident which occurred at the wharf just before the Prince's embarkation, which to all who witnessed it was deeply affecting. His Royal Highness graciously shook hands with all who were near. Among them was John Macormack, Esq., Assistant Police Magistrate, and the father of the timber-trade in this colony, who had resided amongst us for above forty years, and was still in a green old age. As the Prince offered him his hand, the old gentleman took it in both of his, and in a most impressive manner invoked the blessing of God upon His Royal Highness, the Queen, the Prince Consort, and all the Royal Family, that God might bring them all in obedience to Himself, through and for the sake of his own son Jesus Christ our Lord. The tall, venerable form of the old man, whose hair was white with years, stood in graphic contrast to that of the youthful blue-eyed Prince, as he listened to the words of blessing. There could not well be fitter words to grace his departure. SHIPWRECKED SAILORS AND CHRISTIAN ESQUIMAUX. KIND friends who unite in doing needlework for the use of different Missionary stations, will remember to have heard of the "Kitty,” which sailed from London on June 25th, 1860, for York Factory, Hudson's Bay, having on board the proceeds of several working parties, for the Rupert's Land Missions, but which never reached her destination. A letter from Okak, a Missionary station on the coast of Labrador, relates the sad tale of her wreck, and the preservation of five of her crew by the Esquimaux. Our readers, as they peruse it, will observe the difference between the savage Esquimaux who boarded the "Kitty" in Hudson's Bay, and the humane Esquimaux who afterwards befriended in their extremity the first mate and four sailors. How is the difference to be accounted for? They were of the same nation. Yes; but the former were untaught heathen, and the latter were Christians. Last autumn (says the monthly periodical of the London Moravian Society for December last) was characterized in our northern latitudes by frequent and violent storms. This was abundantly experienced by the crew of the Hudson's-Bay ship the "Kitty," which sailed from London on the 25th of June, with merchandise for York Factory. The beginning of the voyage was prosperous, with fair winds; but on the 25th of July the ship lost her foremast in a storm. The damage was, however, soon repaired. In the night of August the 12th they entered Hudson's Straits, and became entangled in the drift-ice. On the 21st the ice was rather thinner; 1861.] SHIPWRECKED SAILORS AND CHRISTIAN ESQUÍMAUX. 19 and, though the wind was contrary, they strove to make their escape by tacking. At length the rudder was broken, and a leak was made in the stern by the ice, so that they had to keep the pumps constantly going. Their efforts to secure the rudder, by means of chains, only partially succeeded, and they found it impossible to avoid frequent shocks from the ice. On the 24th they were near the Middle Savage Islands, when six Esquimaux came off to the ship in kayaks. They were savage beings, who had evidently never been in contact with civilized people before, and were quite unacquainted with bread, gunpowder, &c. Their clothing was, however, in pattern, like that of our Esquimaux. They endeavoured to obtain some pieces of iron in exchange for articles of clothing, and, not satisfied with that, tried to appropriate every thing that was not made fast. As soon as any one of them had secured something which he coveted, he licked it, and concealed it under his fur jacket, with gestures which seemed to forbid its requisition. The crew were, therefore, very glad when they left the ship. At the end of August the ship was driven backwards and forwards by the currents, and was in constant danger of being crushed by the ice. On the 3d and 5th of September new leaks were discovered; and so much water entered the ship, that the crew were obliged to labour constantly at the pumps, in order to keep her afloat. At length, finding all their efforts fruitless, they resolved to make their escape in the boats, which had been got ready for the purpose. Early on the 6th, Captain Ellis and ten men entered the long boat, while the first mate, Mr. Armstrong, with four sailors, took the smaller one. For some time they remained near the ship; but being apprehensive that they would be drawn down with her, they subsequently moved off. The spot where the "Kitty" went down is in longitude 68° 58', and latitude 61° 48. The feelings which agitated the minds of the crews of the two boats in the following stormy, snowy, and bitterly cold night, were probably very various. But Mr. Armstrong told us that he often prayed, and cried, "Lord, look down on us!" And his supplications on behalf of himself and his companions did not remain without an answer. It had been previously agreed on to take the long and perilous course to their original destination, and the two parties promised not to separate. But one night, when it was snowing heavily, and the sea was very rough, those in the smaller boat lost sight of their companions, and never saw them again. They could think no otherwise than that their boat sank, and that they all perished. They now came to the conclusion that they could not possibly perform the long voyage to York Factory in so small a boat, and resolved to run along the coast of Labrador. For a period of sixtythree days they were exposed to the most severe hardships and imminent danger. In the beginning of November they came near Amitok, one of our outlying islands, on which some of our people are in the habit of taking seals in nets. The poor sailors were rejoiced to see human beings; but their joy was speedily damped when they perceived that they were Esquimaux. However, as they felt certain that they would die of hunger in another day, they steered towards the land. As they drew nearer their feelings of joy revived, for the countenances of these Esquimaux had not the rapacious and bloodthirsty expression which they had 20. THE GOSPEL AMONGST THE SLAVES OF TRAVANCORE. [FEB, observed in those whom they had previously seen. Our people soon saw that their visitors were shipwrecked mariners. They therefore hastened to assist them on shore, and took them to their little hut of sods, in which, and in a tent which they constructed of the boat's sail, they showed them every attention, cut their boots off their frozen feet, and wrapped them in skins, and then supplied them with boiled fish, and such other provisions as they had. The mariners subsequently stated that the beautiful singing and the solemn prayers of this Esquimaux family, at their morning and evening devotions, made a deep impression on them. On the 9th of November, the wind being favourable, our people brought them to us. It was indeed distressing to see these five emaciated and half-frozen men. Nor were we without anxious thoughts as to the possibility of providing for so large an addition to our family during the long winter. But if our Saviour should ask us, as He once did his disciples on earth, "Lacked ye any thing?" we should be constrained to reply, as they did, "Nothing!" The Lord also helped us in other respects, and blessed the means made use of, so that four of the sufferers soon recovered. The other man had to have some toes amputated, but is now able to use his feet again. Mr. Armstrong and two of the men were sent to the south in the winter. The other two remained here, and intend to return to Europe on board the "Harmony." They all conducted themselves well, and strove to express their thankfulness for the attentions which they received, by making themselves useful in a variety of ways. THE GOSPEL AMONGST THE SLAVES OF TRAVANCORE. TRAVANCORE and Tinnevelly are the two provinces which lie at the very southern extremity of Hindustan. They are separated from each other by a range of mountains running from north to south. Tinnevelly is a dry country, and its climate very hot, especially April and May, the summer season; and over large portions of it spread out the red-sand plains, where the palmyratree flourishes. Travancore, on the contrary, is a land of rivers and streams. The south-west monsoon brings up the clouds and rain from the Indian Ocean, and these, stopped on their way by the mountains, pour their treasures on Travancore, and leave Tinnevelly unrefreshed. Thus it is productive and rich in vegetation. Possessed of such natural advantages, it ought to be one of the most prosperous of the provinces of India. But it has been exposed to something more blighting and parching than the rainless suns of Tinnevelly, and that has been the rule of the Brahmins, who have lorded it hitherto over the Rajah, and so over the kingdom. With the accession of a new Rajah, however, their power has been crippled, and more hopeful prospects present themselves. The Gospel will be more free to act on the different classes of the population, Brahmins, Nairs, Syrian Christians, and slaves, of whom, out of a population of little more than one million and a quarter, there are 128,000. Amongst these poor people there has sprung up 1861.] THE GOSPEL AMONGST THE SLAVES OF TRAVANCORE. 21 a great desire for Christian instruction. Oppressed and degraded, they found in Him of whom the Gospel tells them the true Friend of whom they stand in need, and many, having been converted to the truth, have been baptized, amidst much persecution from their heathen masters. Such, however, is the improvement in their character and conduct which Christianity has wrought in them, that even these men are constrained to acknowledge it. Some of these people were very recently visited by our Missionary, the Rev. J. Hawksworth, accompanied by the native pastor Koshi. They journeyed in a small open canoe, the country being nearly covered with water, and visited first a slaves' school, which, as it was the middle of harvest, they expected to find closed. This was not the case. The eyes of some of the very little children especially sparkled with intelligence and interest as they held up thumbs, and counted fingers, toes, ears, eyes, noses, &c. The commandments were repeated correctly; and to the question, "What part of you thinks, remembers, is grieved, rejoices?" it was at once answered, "The soul." It is a step in advance that the teacher of these little low-caste boys is of the same class as themselves. Meeting afterwards with some Nairs (Government servants), they entered into a friendly discussion with them, during the course of which a remarkable testimony was given by one of these high-caste heathen to the benefits which the slaves had derived from Christian instruction. "I told them," writes Mr. Hawksworth, Sept. 26th 1860, That England once was in a heathen state, and that then our forefathers worshipped images of wood, stone, &c. ; but afterwards our ancestors (at that time ignorant and cruel) began to ask each other where was the wisdom of praying to things that have no life. They heard about the true God, and now, having renounced all idolatry, the English worship the living and true God only. Trusting entirely to the one Mediator, the true incarnation, who came to save sinners, true Christians amongst them have peace with God. Redemption by a Mediator was then explained, and the need of such a plan was assented to. Mr. Koshi then addressed them, saying that we have the true vedum, which fully teaches these things, and offered to read from the true veda, if they would express a wish, which they did. He then read the parable of the Prodigal Son, and pointed out its applicability to our case, as alienated from God, and dwelt on the perfect willingness of God to be reconciled. This led one of the Nairs, who, like the rest, had apparently listened attentively, to start an objection, saying, "Yes, we see that God pardons those who confess their guilt and ask forgiveness, and He does this freely, without that atonement of which master has just been speaking." Koshi then dwelt on the holiness of God, and showed that, because He is holy, He must inflict the punishment of sin. The Nair said, "We are ignorant, know nothing about atonement by a mediator, and therefore God will just forgive our 22 POETRY THE SURE PILOT. [FEB. sins if we cry to Him for mercy." Koshi then began to say, "In that case, if ignorance were a sufficient plea to rid men of responsibility, the poor ignorant slaves who lie, cheat, steal, and-" The Nair at once stopped him, saying, "Nay; the slaves don't lie, or cheat, or steal, or get drunk, or quarrel now. They have left off all these since they learned this religion!" This unexpected outburst was quite thrilling. What a noble testimony to the reality of the work among the slaves, and to the sanctifying influence of vital Christianity-one which, coming from the lips of a heathen on the spot, was a testimony above suspicion. The discussion was then renewed, and carried on in a friendly, yet most convincing way, on the side of truth, and I listened with great pleasure, until, fearing our audience might get wearied, we prepared to leave; and the headman having received a copy of St. Luke's Gospel and a fly-sheet on redemption, they made their salaams, and we came away. We saw only a few of the slave converts; but in each case, in reply to the idiomatic inquiry, “Is it well with thee?" the ready response, confirmed by a beaming countenance, was, "It is well." How true is it that the Lord "raiseth the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the beggar out of the dunghill, to set them among princes," and to make them inherit the throne of glory. Men of learning and mental power reject, like the Nair, the great doctrine of the atonement; while men who have "never learned" embrace with thankfulness this alone hope for the sinner; and slaves are freed, while free men remain slaves. It is a sad spectacle when pride, the pride of intellect, changes learning, which ought to be such a blessing to the man, into a disadvantage; and men who profess themselves wise, becoming fools, find Christ crucified a stumbling-block. THE SURE PILOT. HE sitteth o'er the waterfloods, He sitteth o'er the waterfloods, He knows how long the wilful heart, He sitteth o'er the waterfloods, When o'er the Saviour's sinless head The waves and billows roll'd. |