Ungava

by R. M. Ballantyne

  CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

  MORE ARRIVALS--HONESTY--INDIANS COME UPON THE SCENE--THE TRIBESRECONCILED--DISEASE AND DEATH CHANGE THE ASPECT OF THINGS--PHILOSOPHICDISCOURSE.

  A day or two after the successful deer-hunt above related, several bandsof Esquimaux arrived at Fort Chimo, and encamped beside their comrades.This unusual influx of visitors soon exhausted the venison that had beenprocured; but hunting parties were constantly on the alert, and as gameof all kinds was plentiful, they lived in the midst of abundance. Toall of these Stanley made small presents of beads and tobacco, andrecommended them strongly to go and hunt for furs. But they seemed tolike their quarters, and refused to move. The new arrivals, along withthose who had first come, formed a band of about three hundred, and werefound, almost without exception, to be a quiet, inoffensive, and honestpeople.

  As a proof of this latter quality, we may mention a circumstance thatoccurred a few days after the arrival of the last band. Being desirousof taking some additional soundings, Stanley launched his boat by thehelp of the Esquimaux, for his own men were all absent hunting andfishing. The boat referred to had been sent to the fort in the ship,and was a most useful and acceptable gift from the Governor of the FurCompany to the gentleman in charge of Ungava. Stanley hoisted hissails, and prepared to run down the river; but ere he had advanced ahundred yards, he was startled by a burst of loud cries from the shore,and, looking back, he observed the whole band of natives pouring like atorrent into the fort! His heart leaped within him as he thought of hisunprotected wife and child. Turning the boat towards the shore, he ranit on the beach, and, leaving it with all the sails standing, he rushedinto the square of the fort, forcing his way through the crush ofnatives, whose vociferous talking rendered what they said, for a time,unintelligible. At length Moses forced his way through the crowd,followed by one of the natives, who led a large dog by a line fastenedround its neck.

  "What's the matter, Moses? what's wrong?" cried Stanley.

  "Oh, not'ing at all," replied Moses, casting a look of pity at hiscountrymen. "Dem are great gooses. Die man here wid de dog, him saydat de child'n was play in de square of dis fort, an' one o' dem trowstone and broke a window. It was de son ob dis man what do it, an' himsay he most awful sorry--an' all de people sorry, so dey bring de dog topay for de broken window."

  "I'm glad it's nothing worse," cried Stanley, much relieved. "Tell themI'm happy to find they are sorry, and I hope they will keep the childrenout of the square in future; but I don't want the dog. It was anaccident, and not worth making such a noise about."

  The Esquimaux, however, would not agree to look upon this accident as alight matter. They said truly, that glass was not to be got so easilyas the ice-blocks with which they formed windows to their own winterhouses, so they insisted on the dog being accepted; and at lengthStanley gave in, but took care that the native who gave it should not bea loser in consequence of his honesty. Moreover, Stanley begged of themto send up several of their best dogs, saying that he would purchasethem, as he was in want of a team for hauling the winter firewood.

  Next day, while Stanley was engaged in the trading store with a party ofEsquimaux, he was surprised by hearing a volley of musketry fired at theback of the fort. Snatching up a loaded gun as he ran hastily out, hefound that the shots had been fired by a band of Indians as a salute tothe fort on their arrival.

  This was the first time that Indians had made their appearance since thearrival of the fur-traders; and their advent at the present time wasmost fortunate, as it afforded Stanley an opportunity of commencing hisnegotiations as peacemaker in the presence of a considerable band ofboth parties. The Indians, fifteen in number, were all clothed, withthe exception of their chief, in deerskin hunting shirts, ornamentedmoccasins of the same material, and cloth leggings. They wore nohead-dress, but their long, straight, black hair was decorated withfeathers and small metallic ornaments, among which were several silverthimbles. Their powder-horns and shot-pouches were gaily ornamentedwith bead and quill work; and they were all armed with long guns, onwhich they leaned as they stood silently, in a picturesque group, on theflat, rocky platform above the spring, which has been more than oncealluded to.

  This platform overlooked the fort, and was a favourite promenade of thetraders. At present it formed a sort of neutral ground, on which theIndians took their stand. The red men were overawed by the verysuperior number of the Esquimaux, and felt that they were safe only solong as they stood on the flat rock, which was the only path leading tothe ravine, through which, if need be, they could easily escape into themountains.

  The chief of the Indians, unlike his fellows, was dressed in a costumeof the most grotesque and brilliant character, and, certainly, onewhich, however much it might raise the admiration of his savagecompanions, did not add to his dignity in the eyes of the traders. Hewore a long, bright scarlet coat, richly embroidered with gold lace,with large cuffs, and gilt buttons; a pair of blue cloth trousers, and avest of the same material; a broad worsted sash, and a hat in the formof the ordinary beaver or silk hat of Europe. The material, however,was very coarse; but this was made up for by the silver, and gilt cords,and tassels with which it was profusely decorated. He evidently felthis own importance, and stood with a calm, dignified gaze, waiting to beaddressed.

  Hailing Ma-istequan, who leaned on the axe with which he had beencutting firewood when the volley of the Indians arrested him, Stanleybade him invite them to enter the fort.

  "We cannot come down," replied the chief, after Ma-istequan had giventhe invitation. "The Eskimos are in numbers like the stars; we are few.If the pale-faces are our friends, let them come up here and take us bythe hand and bring us down."

  "Very reasonable," said Stanley to Frank, who stood beside him; "we musttake care that the Esquimaux do not take advantage of their numbers toavenge their ancient wrongs."

  Then, turning to the natives, who had now crowded in large numbers intothe fort, Stanley addressed them in a serious tone; told them that thetime had now come when he hoped to reconcile the Innuit and the Allat[Esquimau name for Indians] together; and that he expected they wouldshow their gratitude for his many kindnesses to them by treating theIndians, who were his friends, with hospitality. The Esquimaux promisedobedience, after which Stanley ascended to the promenade, and taking theIndian chief by the hand, led him towards the fort, followed by thewhole band in single file.

  It is not necessary to detail the speeches that followed on both sideson this occasion, and the eloquence that was expended that evening inthe cause of peace. Suffice it to say that the Indians and Esquimauxshook hands and exchanged gifts in the presence of the assembledgarrison of Fort Chimo. But although the traders had reason tocongratulate themselves on having so far succeeded in the establishmentof peace, they could not conceal from themselves the fact that while, onthe one hand, the Esquimaux appeared to be perfectly sincere and cordialin their professions, on the other hand the Indians evinced a good dealof taciturnity at first, and even after their reserve was overcome,seemed to act as men do who are constrained to the performance of adistasteful action.

  In general character, the Indians of Labrador do not contrast well withthe Esquimaux--at least this may with truth be said of those whoafterwards became attached to the district of Ungava. The Indian isreserved and taciturn, while the Esquimau is candid, frank, andcommunicative. Of course there are exceptions on both sides.

  On the evening of the same day, Stanley had much difficulty inovercoming the reserve of the Indians, so as to procure informationregarding the interior; and it was not until their hearts were opened bythe influence of tobacco, that they condescended to give the requiredinformation. This was to the effect that there were not manyfur-bearing animals in the immediate vicinity of Ungava, but that therewere a good many in the wooded country lying to the southward andeastward. Here, however, the Indians do not care to hunt, preferringrather to keep to the heights of land, and near the coast, where thedeer are numerous. In fac
t, Stanley afterwards found that the facilitywith which the Indians procured deer in this part of the country was aserious drawback to the fur trade, as they contented themselves withtrapping just enough of otters, foxes, etcetera, to enable them toprocure a supply of ammunition with which to hunt the deer.

  The Indians had brought a few beaver and other furs to trade, and, afterreceiving a good meal and a few presents, they took up their quarters ona plot of ground close to the fort. Here they lived a short time inperfect friendship with the Esquimaux, visiting them, and hunting incompany; but more than once they exhibited their natural disposition bystealing the goods of their neighbours. On one occasion, two Esquimauchildren were missed from the camp, and in the course of the day theyreturned to their parents clothed in Indian costume! This was a verypolite piece of attention on the part of the Indians, but the effect ofit was much marred, the same day, by the abstraction of a knife from anEsquimau tent. Stanley insisted on the article being restored, andseverely reprimanded the offender. But, although the general harmony ofthe camp was sometimes broken by such events, the friendship between thetwo parties seemed to be gradually increasing, and Stanley saw withsatisfaction that the Allat and the Innuit bade fair to become fastfriends for the future.

  But an event occurred at this time which put an end to theirintercourse, and very much altered the aspect of affairs. For some timepast the men at the fort had been subject to rather severe attacks ofcold, or a species of influenza. This they unfortunately communicatedto the Esquimaux, who seemed to be peculiarly susceptible of thedisease. Being very fat and full-blooded, it had the most dreadfuleffect on the poor creatures, and at a certain stage almost choked them.At last one night it was reported that ten of their number had diedfrom absolute suffocation. All of these had been strong and robust, andthey died after two days' illness.

  One of those who were attacked was Edith's little friend, Arnalooa, andjust before the ten Esquimaux died, Edith had gone down to the camp witha present of beads to console her. She found her much better, and,after talking to her for some time, she took her leave, promising to payher another visit next day. True to her promise, Edith sallied forthafter breakfast with a little native basket on her arm. About half anhour afterwards, while Stanley was sitting in the hall with his wife andFrank, they were startled by the sudden appearance of Edith, out ofbreath from the speed with which she had run home, and her faceoverspread with a deadly paleness.

  "What is the matter, my darling?" cried her mother, starting up inalarm.

  "Oh! the Esquimaux are lying dead on the sand," gasped Edith, as shelaid her head on her mother's breast, "and the rest are all gone."

  Without waiting to hear more, Frank and Stanley took down their guns andhastened to the camp. Here a scene of the most horrible kind presenteditself. The whole camp exhibited evidences of a hasty flight, and eightof the people who had died during the night were lying exposed on therocks, with their white faces and ghastly eyeballs turned towards thesky. The other two had been buried on the rocks under a heap of stones,which did not conceal them entirely from view.

  "No wonder poor Edith was alarmed," said Stanley sadly, as he leaned onhis fowling-piece and surveyed the scene of desolation and death.

  "I have been told," remarked Frank, "that the Esquimaux have asuperstitious dread of this river. Oolibuck mentioned to me thismorning that he has had a good deal of conversation with the nativesabout this disease, and they told him that it invariably attacks themwhen they enter this river, and carries them off by dozens; so that theynever come into it except when they require wood, and always stay asshort a time as possible."

  "Ah! that's bad," said Stanley; "I fear that it will go much against thesuccess of the establishment. But we must hope better things; and,truly, with this exception, all has gone well hitherto. Said theyanything more, Frank?"

  "Yes; they hinted, it seems, their intention of flying away from thisfatal spot, and taking up their abode for the winter at the mouth ofFalse River, where they can obtain a livelihood by seal-fishing; butOolibuck thought they did not mean to put the threat in execution, anddid not imagine that they were in such alarm that they would go offwithout burying their dead."

  "We must do that for them, Frank," said Stanley, turning to retrace hissteps to the fort; "send down as many of the men as you can spareto-day, and get it done at once."

  "By the way," said Frank, as they walked along the beach, "it seems thatmany years ago the Moravian missionaries came to the mouth of thisriver, and talked of setting up a trading-fort here; but, from somecause unknown, they gave up their design and went away. Maximus hasbeen telling me all he knows about the matter; but his reports arevague, and the event must have occurred, if it occurred at all, when hewas a child."

  "Very possibly, Frank. You know the Moravians have settlements alongthe coasts of Labrador, to the eastward of this. They may have made anattempt long ago to push as far as this. I have always had a highopinion of the energy and perseverance of these missionaries, but Icannot get over the incongruity of their strange way of mingling tradewith religion. It seems to me an unnatural sort of thing formissionaries to be fur-traders. I do not mean by this to object totheir system, however; I daresay it works well, but I've had no means ofjudging."

  "It is strange," replied Frank; "yet it seems a good plan. Themissionaries trade there in order that they may live and preach.'Twould be a good thing for the Indian country if the same principlesand practice actuated the traders; with this difference, that instead ofmissionaries becoming fur-traders, the fur-traders would becomemissionaries. It does seem a species of infatuation," continued Frank,energetically, as he warmed with the subject, "that men, callingthemselves Christians, should live for years and years among the poorIndians of America and never once name to them the great and saving nameof Christ. Of course I do not wonder at those who make little or noprofession of Christianity; but there are men in the fur-trade who seemto be deeply impressed with the truths of God's Word--who are alive tothe fact that there is no name under heaven given among men whereby wecan be saved except the name of Christ--who know and feel that theIndians around them are living without God, and therefore without hopein the world--who feel that _Christ_ is _all in all_, and that theChristian religion, however perfect and beautiful as a code of morals,is utterly worthless as to salvation unless there be in the heart thespecial love of Jesus Christ;--men who admit and profess to believe allthis, yet never speak of Christ to the natives--never mention the namethat can alone save them from eternal destruction."

  "Be not hasty, Frank," replied Stanley. "I agree with you, that it isstrange indeed we do not see and hear more of this missionary spiritamong the traders, and I, for one, take your words as a deserved rebuketo myself; but if there are, as you say, many among us who are deeplyimpressed with the truths of God's Word, how know you that we nevermention our Saviour's name to the Indians? Although fur-traders do notmount the pulpit, they may, in private, make mention of that name, anddo an amount of good that will only be fully known when the trader, thetrapper, and the Indian shall stand side by side before thejudgment-seat of Christ. Observe, I do not say that this is actuallythe case; I only suggest that it is possible--may I not add, probable?"

  "It may be so," returned Frank, "it may be so, and God forgive me if Ihave judged the men of the fur-trade unjustly; but I certainly know onewho has made somewhat of a profession of Christianity in his day, andyet has done next to nothing, and that one is Frank Morton."

  "I'll not gainsay that, Frank," said Stanley, with a quiet smile; "and Ithink we are not likely to err much when we apply censure to ourselves.It is curious that you and I should have been thinking of the very samesubject. A few days ago, while my wife and I were conversing togetherabout the Esquimaux, we agreed to devote a good deal of our leisure timenext winter to reading and explaining the Bible to our Esquimauinterpreters, in the hope that they may afterwards be the means of muchgood among their poor countrymen."

  Whethe
r or not the good resolutions made at this time were ever put inpractice we cannot say. Let us hope that they were.

  Not long after the sudden flight of the Esquimaux, the Indians strucktheir tents and took their departure for the interior, with theintention, as they said, of hunting for furs, but more probably, asMa-istequan suggested, to hunt the deer. During all the time of theirresidence at the fort, Maximus had kept out of their way as much aspossible. He seldom met them without a frown of hatred, for he regardedthem as the representatives of a race which had robbed him of his bride;and there were times when the giant's spirit chafed so fearfully at thesight of the red men, that nothing but the remembrance of his promise toStanley, to offer them no injury, prevented him from stirring up histribe to overwhelm and destroy them. It was, therefore, with a feelingof relief that Maximus beheld them march single file over the rockyplatform, and disappear in the ravine that led into the mountains.

  The traders of Ungava were once more left in solitude, and from thistime forward, until the winter set in, they devoted all their energiesto laying up a stock of provisions sufficient to last till spring.

  Dick Prince and Massan were sent after the deer in company. Augustusand Bryan were dispatched to a small lake to establish a fishery; inwhich they were very successful, and soon caught a large supply ofexcellent white-fish, trout, and carp, which they gutted and hung up bytheir tails to dry and freeze. Frank and Moses went to another smalllake, about ten miles down the river, and built a hut of willows, inwhich they dwelt while engaged at the fishery. As there was still muchto be done in the way of completing the fort, and making furniture,Stanley retained La Roche, Oolibuck, and the two Indians to assist himin this, as well as in the performance of the miscellaneous minor dutiesabout the station, such as cutting up firewood, covering the roofs ofthe stores with tarpaulin, shooting such birds and animals as came nearthe fort, constructing rude chairs and tables, cooking, etcetera,etcetera; while Francois and Gaspard were sent up the river to felltrees, for the purposes both of building and firewood. Edith and hermother found ample occupation--the latter in the use of her needle andthe cares of the household; the former in learning her lessons, visitingher berry-ravine, dressing her doll (for she had a doll, as a matter ofcourse), and in holding long and frequent converse with Chimo.

  Thus they spent their time; too busily occupied to take much note of itsrapid flight, and scarce noticing the lengthening nights and shorteningdays, until needles of ice began with slow and silent progress to shootacross and solidify the waters of the bay.