Overview:
This journal, written in 1811, documents the journey of missionaries Benjamin Kohlmeister and George Kmoch to Ungava Bay, a region then largely unknown to Europeans, to explore the coast and visit the Esquimaux who inhabited it. The mission was motivated by repeated requests from Esquimaux who visited the established missions at Okkak, Nain, and Hopedale, urging the missionaries to come north and share the Gospel with their brethren. The voyage, undertaken with the assistance of a skilled Esquimaux captain, Jonathan, and his family, faced various challenges due to ice, storms, and navigational difficulties.
The missionaries documented their encounters with different Esquimaux communities, observing their customs and culture, including their methods of hunting, fishing, and traditional beliefs. They also noted their experiences with the dangers of the region’s treacherous waters and harsh weather conditions. As the journey progressed, Kohlmeister and Kmoch made observations about the land, including its geography, vegetation, and resources. Ultimately, they sought to find a suitable location to establish a new missionary settlement, ultimately finding a promising spot near the mouth of the Koksoak River.
Key Findings:
- The Esquimaux living near the Ungava Bay had never seen a European before the arrival of Kohlmeister and Kmoch.
- The region was largely unknown to Europeans, and the missionaries faced significant navigational challenges due to ice and currents.
- The Ungava Bay region was rich in natural resources, including forests, rivers, and wildlife, making it a potentially viable location for a settlement.
- The Esquimaux tribes in this region demonstrated a willingness to hear about Christianity and expressed a desire for missionaries to come live among them.
Learning:
- Esquimaux Culture: The reader will learn about the daily lives, customs, and beliefs of the Esquimaux in the Ungava Bay region, including their methods of hunting, fishing, and their traditional relationship with the land.
- Hunting and Fishing: The Esquimaux relied on a combination of hunting and fishing for survival, and the journal details their methods for catching seals, reindeer, salmon, and trout. The missionaries even describe how Esquimaux catch fish by spearing them under the ice in winter.
- Traditional Beliefs: The journal provides insights into the Esquimaux’s traditional beliefs, including their fear of the spirit Torngak, and their reliance on charms and rituals for protection.
- Exploration and Discovery: The reader will gain an understanding of the challenges and rewards of exploration in a largely uncharted region, understanding the importance of navigation, resourcefulness, and resilience in the face of adversity.
- Missionary Work: The journal provides a glimpse into the motivations and efforts of missionaries to spread the Christian faith to new communities. The reader will see how Kohlmeister and Kmoch sought to establish a positive relationship with the Esquimaux and communicate the message of the Gospel, despite language barriers and cultural differences.
Historical Context:
The journal was written in 1811, during a period of expanding European exploration and colonization. The British government was actively encouraging settlements in the area to assert its claim to the territory. However, the region was largely uncharted and remained a remote and dangerous frontier. The missionaries’ journey was undertaken amidst this context of exploration and growing interest in the region’s resources and potential.
Facts:
- Esquimaux Travel to Okkak: For many years, a large number of Esquimaux traveled to the three missionary settlements in Labrador (Okkak, Nain, and Hopedale) to trade and visit friends.
- Cape Chudleigh: The Esquimaux called Cape Chudleigh “Killinek.”
- Missionary Settlement: The first missionary settlement in Labrador was established in 1771.
- Limited Population: The southern coast of Labrador was thinly inhabited by Esquimaux, leading missionaries to desire access to the larger population further north.
- Brig Jemima: A brig named the Jemima was used to transport supplies annually to the three missionary settlements in Labrador.
- Jonathan: Jonathan, a skilled Esquimaux captain, agreed to guide the missionaries on their journey.
- Love of Music: The Esquimaux enjoyed singing and music, and easily learned to sing hymns and psalm tunes.
- Salmon-Trout: Salmon-trout are found in abundance on the Labrador coast and are a key source of food for the Esquimaux.
- Spearing Fish: Esquimaux caught salmon-trout under the ice in winter using a method called spearing.
- Netsek Seal: The Netsek seal is the only species of seal that remains under the ice during the winter.
- Greenland Houses: Ruins of Greenland houses, including walls and graves, were found on islands near Nain and other parts of the Labrador coast.
- Torngak: Torngak was the evil spirit believed to inhabit the Ungava Bay region.
- Driftwood: Driftwood, carried by ice from the Ungava rivers, was readily available as fuel for the missionaries.
- Akpatok Island: Akpatok Island is a large island off the coast of Ungava Bay, and is said to enclose the entire bay towards the sea.
- High Tides: Tides in Ungava Bay were exceptionally high, sometimes rising to five or six fathoms.
- Reindeer Moss: Reindeer moss was prevalent in the Ungava Bay region, providing a food source for reindeer.
- Jasper: Red jasper, or iron-stone, was abundant along the coast from Killinek to South River.
- Indian Fires: Indians frequently set fires in the Ungava Bay region, which often left burnt or withered trees.
- Eivektok: Eivektok was a district in the Ungava Bay region, where some of the Esquimaux who met the missionaries had their summer dwellings.
- Whitefish: Whitefish were abundant in the Koksoak River and other waters in the Ungava Bay region.
Statistics:
- Distance: The journey from Okkak to the Koksoak River was approximately 600-700 miles, with Killinek or Cape Chudleigh halfway.
- Latitude: The latitude of the Koksoak River estuary was 58° 36′ N, nearly the same as Okkak.
- Width of Koksoak: The Koksoak River was estimated to be about as wide as the Thames at Gravesend or the Elbe near Hamburg.
- Distance to Koksoak: The Koksoak River was approximately 140 miles S.S.W. of Cape Chudleigh.
- Depth of Koksoak: The Koksoak River was deep enough for a ship for at least 5-6 miles inland.
- Distance to Ungava: The Ungava region was 70-80 miles from the location where the missionaries encountered a storm.
- Circumference of Arvarvik Island: Arvarvik Island, where the Esquimaux hunted whales, was approximately 5 miles in circumference.
- Distance to Uibvaksoak: The journey from the Dragon’s dwelling (Torngets) to Uibvaksoak was about 100 miles.
- Distance to Omanek: Omanek was about 40-50 miles from the Uibvaksoak cape.
- Distance of Ikkerasak: The Ikkerasak (or strait) separating Killinek Island from the continent was about 10 miles in length.
- Number of Families: The missionaries encountered approximately 14 families of Esquimaux at the mouth of the Koksoak River.
- Number of Families: At Unity’s Bay, the missionaries found five families from Eivektok planning to live in the region the following winter.
- Number of Families: The total number of Esquimaux who met the missionaries during their journey was approximately 50.
- Depth at Anchorage: The missionaries anchored in 9 fathoms of water at Ittimnekoktok Bay and were left in 1.5 fathoms the following morning due to the tide.
- Number of Reindeer: Uttakiyok, the Esquimaux guide, killed three reindeer in one day while hunting.
- Diameter of Trees: The largest trees in the Ungava Bay region were around 8 inches in diameter.
- Time on Voyage: The missionaries’ journey lasted 15 weeks, from June 24 to October 4.
- Distance of Journey: The missionaries estimated their journey to be between 1200-1300 miles in total.
- Speed of Journey: The return trip from the Koksoak River to the mouth of the Kangertlualuksoak Bay took only three days, while the initial journey took 12 days.
- Number of Seals: The missionaries caught three seals during their stay at Kikkertarsoak, during their return journey.
Terms:
- Angekok: A sorcerer or shaman among the Esquimaux.
- Ikkerasak: A strait or narrow passage between islands or landmasses.
- Kayak: A small, lightweight boat made of animal skin stretched over a frame, used by the Esquimaux.
- Kairolik: A type of mid-sized seal.
- Ugsuk: The largest species of seal.
- Netsek: A small species of seal, often caught under the ice in winter.
- Pitsiolak: An auk, a type of seabird.
- Pautik: An oar used in a kayak.
- Torngak: The evil spirit believed to inhabit the Ungava Bay region by the Esquimaux.
- Vaccinia: A genus of flowering plants that includes blueberries and cranberries, found in the region.
Examples:
- Atsugarsuk: An old conjuror (Angekok) who spread rumors about the dangers of the voyage and the hostility of the Ungava Esquimaux.
- Jonathan: A skilled Esquimaux captain who guided the missionaries on their journey and helped them through difficult situations.
- Uttakiyok: A respected Esquimaux leader from Ungava Bay who acted as the missionaries’ guide and who showed a willingness to embrace Christianity.
- Onalik and Tullugaksoak: Two Esquimaux who, after hearing the missionaries’ message, declared their intention to be converted to Christianity.
- Old Man with Sore Legs: A venerable old man who expressed an interest in hearing about Jesus, demonstrating the potential for faith to take root even among those who had never heard the Gospel before.
- John and Mary: An Esquimaux couple who had been baptized but later left the Christian community, illustrating the challenges of maintaining faith in a difficult environment.
- Jonas: Jonathan’s son who addressed the heathen Esquimaux, sharing his own experience of conversion and urging them to follow his example.
- Kumiganna: An Esquimaux from Saeglek who offered to accompany the missionaries to Killinek and who ultimately helped them avoid shipwreck.
- Paul: Jonathan’s cousin, who was a skilled hunter and who helped the missionaries by finding food and providing guidance during the journey.
- Netsiak: A captain among the Esquimaux from Eivektok, who expressed interest in the missionaries’ message and said he would join them if they settled in the region.
Conclusion:
The journal “Journal of a Voyage from Okkak, on the Coast of Labrador, to Ungava Bay, Westward of Cape Chudleigh” offers a fascinating glimpse into a largely unexplored region of North America at the beginning of the 19th century. The missionaries’ journey, fraught with challenges and risks, highlights the importance of resourcefulness, resilience, and faith in the face of adversity. The journal also provides invaluable insights into the lives, customs, and beliefs of the Esquimaux communities encountered during the expedition, highlighting their cultural richness and the potential for missionary work to spread the Gospel to new populations. The missionaries’ discovery of a promising site for a missionary settlement near the mouth of the Koksoak River, alongside the Esquimaux’s apparent interest in Christianity, suggests the potential for future Christian missions to make a lasting impact in the Ungava Bay region.