CHAPTER XVIII 



GATHERING UP FRAGMENTS 



" I know thy works and tribulation and 

 poverty (but thou art rich)." 



WE have now seen the progress of the Mission 

 and something of its prospects up to the 

 summer of 1902. We now propose to take a few 

 extracts from Mr. Peck's diaries which will serve 

 to bring some scenes in his journeys as pictures 

 before the reader's eyes. 



In March, 1901, he started on a journey to 

 Kikkerton ; Mr. Esslemont (Mr. Noble's agent) 

 was his companion. " On the i8th we passed on 

 over the barren plains of ice. We drove in a 

 northerly direction, and then proceeded to cross 

 Cumberland Sound. This, however, proved most 

 difficult. The ice in some places was piled up in 

 great rugged masses, and our Eskimo guide had to 

 climb large hummocks of ice so that he might see 

 the best road to take. To make matters worse 

 Mr. Esslemont's ' sledge-runner broke. This we 



lashed up with seal line and pressed on our way. 



32 i 2I 



