We will print you a perfectly bound paperback of your selected title and send it to you at your nominated address

E-text prepared by the Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproduction,
Wallace McLean, David Garcia,

---

No. 556

DANGERS ON THE ICE

OFF THE COAST OF LABRADOR, WITH SOME INTERESTING
PARTICULARS RESPECTING THE NATIVES
OF THAT COUNTRY

DANGERS ON THE ICE,
OFF THE COAST OF LABRADOR

The Moravian Missionaries on the coast of Labrador (a part of NorthAmerica) for many years suffered much from the severity of the climate,and the savage disposition of the natives. In the year 1782, thebrethren, Liebisch and Turner, experienced a remarkable preservation oftheir lives; the particulars show the dangers the Missionaries underwentin pursuing their labours. To this Narrative are added some furtherparticulars, which show their labours were not without success.

Early on March the 11th, they left Nain to go to Okkak, a journey of150 miles. They travelled in a sledge drawn by dogs, and another sledgewith Esquimaux joined them, the whole party consisting of five men, onewoman, and a child. The weather was remarkably fine, and the track overthe frozen sea was in the best order, so that they travelled at therate of six or seven miles an hour. All therefore were in good spirits,hoping to reach Okkak in two or three days. Having passed the islandsin the bay, they kept at a considerable distance from the shore, bothto gain the smoothest part of the ice, and to avoid the high and rockypromontory of Kiglapeit. About eight o'clock they met a sledge withEsquimaux driving towards the land, who intimated that it might be wellnot to proceed; but as the missionaries saw no reason for it, they paidno regard to these hints, and went on. In a while, however, their ownEsquimaux remarked, that there was a swell under the ice. It was thenhardly perceptible, except on applying the ear close to the ice, when ahollow grating and roaring noise was heard. The weather remained clear,and no sudden change was expected. But the motion of the sea under theice had grown so perceptible as rather to alarm our travellers, and theybegan to think it prudent to keep closer to the shore. The ice in manyplaces had fissures and cracks, some of which formed chasms of one ortwo feet wide; but as they are not uncommon, and the dogs easily leapover them, the sledge following without danger, they are terrible onlyto new comers.

As soon as the sun declined, the wind increased and rose to a storm.The snow was driven about by whirl winds, both on the ice and from offthe peaks of the high mountains, and filled the air. At the same timethe swell had increased so much, that its effects upon the ice becamevery extraordinary and alarming. The sledges, instead of gliding alongsmoothly upon an even surface, sometimes ran with violence after thedogs, and shortly after seemed with difficulty to ascend the risinghill; for the elasticity of so vast a body of ice, of many leaguessquare, supported by a troubled sea, though in some places three or fouryards in thickness, would, in some degree, occasion a motion not unlikethat of a sheet of paper upon the surface of a rippling stream. Noiseswere now likewise heard in many directions, like the report of cannon,