viii PREFACE 



A large amount of matter had previously been 

 collected by one of Mr. Peck's friends, who wishes 

 to remain anonymous. To this gentleman the 

 thanks of the author are due not only for numerous 

 selections from Mr. Peck's diaries, but also for 

 many original passages which have been incorpo- 

 rated in the narrative, especially in the earlier 

 chapters. 



That there are many blemishes in the following 

 pages the author himself is conscious, but he hopes 

 that the reader will be lenient when he remembers 

 that there was no possibility of consulting those 

 who alone could have given help, had they been 

 at hand the missionaries. Working, as they are, 

 among the Eskimos, they are hopelessly cut off 

 from the outer world. How complete is their 

 isolation may be well illustrated by what is passing 

 in the author's mind as he writes this preface. In 

 July, 1903, Mr. Peck sailed from Peterhead on the 

 return voyage to Blacklead Island. About three 

 or four weeks later, on August 13, his little 

 daughter died at Boscombe. He has not yet 



