86 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



monument in Westminster Abbey who never did 

 half so much for his fellow-creatures.' Then 

 again he asked, ' Who did you say was the author 

 or inventor of these characters ? ' 



" ' The Rev. James Evans,' I replied. 



" * Well, why is it that I never heard of him 

 before, I wonder ? ' 



" My reply was, ' My lord, perhaps the reason 

 you never heard of him before was because he was a 

 humble, modest Methodist preacher.' 



"With a laugh he replied, 'That may have 

 been it.' " 



The adaptation and use, then, of this method for 

 transcribing the Scriptures was an early work for 

 the missionary. So soon as April 9, 1877, Mr. 

 Peck is able to write : 



" I have succeeded in teaching several of the 

 Eskimos to read in the Syllabic characters ; they are 

 very eager to learn. One of them said that he was 

 ' mad to learn.' Let us hope that this unusual 

 complaint may prove infectious. There are twelve 

 Eskimos who can now read the 3rd chapter of St. 

 John's Gospel in their own tongue." Molucto and 

 his son were at this time able to read as much as 

 five chapters, some parts quite fluently. 



Having experimented successfully in this way, 

 Mr. Peck resolved as soon as possible i.e., as soon 

 as ever he should feel quite certain of the sounds 

 himself to transcribe the whole Testament. 



