DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70302#0277
PRESERVATION OF TWO MISSIONARIES.
245
that they had no more themselves, and reproved him for
his impatience. Whenever the victuals were distributed,
he always swallowed his portion very greedily, and put
out his hand for what he saw the missionaries had left,
but was easily kept from any further attempt by serious
reproof. The Esquimaux ate to-day an old sack made of
fish-skin, which proved indeed a dry and miserable dish.
While they were at this singular meal, they kept repeat-
ing in a low humming tone, “ You was a sack but a little
while ago, and now you are food for us.” Towards
evening some flakes of ice were discovered driving to-
wards the coast, and on the fourteenth in the morning,
the sea was covered with them. But the weather was
again very strong, stormy, and the Esquimaux could
not quit the snow-house, which made them extremely
low-spirited and melancholy. Kissigiak suggested that
it would be well to make good weather; by which he
meant to practise his art as a sorcerer, to make the
weather good. The missionaries opposed it, and told
him that his heathenish practices were of no use, but that
the weather would become favourable as soon as it should
please God.
To-day, the Esquimaux began to eat an old filthy and
worn-out skin, which had served them for a mattrass.
On the fifteenth the weather continued boisterous, and
the Esquimaux appeared every now and then to sink
under disappointment. But they possess one good qua-
lity, namely, a power of going to sleep when they
please; and, if need be, they will sleep for a day and
night together.
In the evening the sky became clear, and their hopes
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
245
that they had no more themselves, and reproved him for
his impatience. Whenever the victuals were distributed,
he always swallowed his portion very greedily, and put
out his hand for what he saw the missionaries had left,
but was easily kept from any further attempt by serious
reproof. The Esquimaux ate to-day an old sack made of
fish-skin, which proved indeed a dry and miserable dish.
While they were at this singular meal, they kept repeat-
ing in a low humming tone, “ You was a sack but a little
while ago, and now you are food for us.” Towards
evening some flakes of ice were discovered driving to-
wards the coast, and on the fourteenth in the morning,
the sea was covered with them. But the weather was
again very strong, stormy, and the Esquimaux could
not quit the snow-house, which made them extremely
low-spirited and melancholy. Kissigiak suggested that
it would be well to make good weather; by which he
meant to practise his art as a sorcerer, to make the
weather good. The missionaries opposed it, and told
him that his heathenish practices were of no use, but that
the weather would become favourable as soon as it should
please God.
To-day, the Esquimaux began to eat an old filthy and
worn-out skin, which had served them for a mattrass.
On the fifteenth the weather continued boisterous, and
the Esquimaux appeared every now and then to sink
under disappointment. But they possess one good qua-
lity, namely, a power of going to sleep when they
please; and, if need be, they will sleep for a day and
night together.
In the evening the sky became clear, and their hopes
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