Journal of a Voyage from Okkak, on the Coast of Labrador, to Ungava Bay, Westward of Cape Chudleigh - Undertaken to Explore the Coast, and Visit the Esquimaux in That Unknown Region by Benjamin Kohlmeister;George Kmoch
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fully determined to venture in the name of God, and trusting in His
protection, we were thankful that they failed to produce the intended effect on Jonathan, our guide, and on the other Esquimaux, who were to go with us, and who all remained firm. When Jonathan was told that the Ungava Esquimaux would kill him, he generally answered: "Well, we will try, and shall know better when we get there:" and once, conversing with us on the subject, expressed himself thus: "When I hear people talking about the danger of being killed, I think: Jesus went to death out of love to us, what great matter would it be, if we were to be put to death in His service, should that be His good pleasure concerning us." 24th. Having commended ourselves in prayer to the grace and protecting care of God our Saviour, and to the kind remembrance of our dear fellow missionaries, we set sail at two P.M. Our company consisted of four Esquimaux families: 1. _Jonathan_, and his wife _Sybilla_, both between fifty and sixty years old. He was esteemed one of the most skilful commanders on the whole coast of Labrador, and for many years has shown himself both able and willing to serve the missionaries in a variety of ways. The boat was his own property, and we considered him as the captain of the expedition. 2. _Jonas_, Jonathan's son, and his wife _Agnes_, about thirty years of age, both intelligent, clever Esquimaux; they had their five children with them; _Sophia_, twelve years old, _Susanna_, _Jonathan_, _Thamar_, and _Sybilla_, the youngest but half a year old. 3. _Paul_, and his wife _Mary_, very agreeable, sensible people, about twenty years of age. Paul is Jonathan's cousin, and a man of a very warm temper. In activity and skill, he was next to Jonathan. 4. _David_, and his mother _Rachel_, the |
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