310 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



And what a contrast that service which followed 

 was to all that the Eskimos had known before ! 

 " We desired in every way to show the people 

 how a Christian ought to be buried. I told all that 

 could come to attend a service in church. Many 

 brought their books. These contain a translation 

 of our Burial Service. The first part was read in 

 our little church. After this we all went to the 

 place of burial selected by the relatives. I do 

 not mean that a grave was dug. This we cannot 

 do. There is no soil here deep enough, and what 

 little there is, is as yet thawed only a few inches 

 below the surface. Our burial places must there- 

 fore be on the rocks. Big stones were placed on 

 top of the coffin (which had been made by Mr. 

 Bilby) to prevent its being blown over at any time 

 by the wind. Around this we gathered together. I 

 then concluded the service and spoke a few solemn 

 words to those assembled, and then we parted. 

 What a change, thank God ! What a contrast 

 to the awful way in which some of the dead have 

 been buried no covering but the snow and the 

 carcase torn in pieces by the dogs as soon as they 

 could reach it." 



But before this girl was laid to rest in the first 

 native Christian grave of Cumberland Sound, more 

 ripe fruit had been gathered. On May 19 Mr. 

 Peck says : " The people do show much more 

 attention now. God is gradually but surely work- 



