WALKS IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD OF OKAK.


The word Okak signifies "the Tongue." The station is situated on a
hilly island, which for nearly half the year is practically part of
the mainland, for the broad straits are bridged by thick ice. The
heights around our little settlement command fine views of the
surrounding mountains and fjords. The island of Cape Mugford is one of
the grandest objects in the barren landscape, and the Kaumajets, a
noble range, stretch away to the north of it.

_Thursday, August 30th._--Had an interesting walk over moorland in
search of the site of Kivalek, one of the old heathen villages, from
which the population of Okak was drawn. On a grassy plain we found the
roofless remains of many turf huts. They are similar to the mounds
near Hopedale, already described, but larger and more numerous. One
cannot but view, with a sad interest, these remnants of the former
abodes of pagans without hope and without God in the world. "Let them
alone, they are very happy in their own religion." So some would tell
us; but was it so here? Is it so where the true light has not yet
shined into pagan darkness? No, here, as everywhere in heathenism, the
works of the flesh were manifest. And these, as the Bible plainly
tells us, and as missionary experience abundantly confirms, are
"fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, sorcery,
enmities, strifes, jealousies, wraths, factions, divisions, parties,
envyings, drunkenness, revellings, and such like." But through the
power of the Gospel old things have passed away. Heathen Kivalek is
uninhabited, and though the flesh yet lusteth against the Spirit in
the lives of the dwellers at Christian Okak, yet, thank God, the