INTRODUCTION 35 



man Catholic priest, succeeded in enticing a number of 

 the Eskimos away from the Brethren. And Cartwright 

 says in his journal in 1783 : " The Eskimos expressed a 

 great dislike to the Moravians, and assured me they would 

 not live near, or trade with, them more." It was not until 

 1804, says one of the missionaries, that the fruits of the 

 mission began to appear; but in that year, "a fire from the 

 Lord was kindled among the Eskimos." Since then 

 mission stations have been established at Hebron, at Zoar, 

 at Ramah, and at Makkovik. These names may be seen 

 marked on any good map of northeastern America, " names 

 of another clime and an alien race." 



The Eskimos, said Cartwright, "have always been 

 accounted the most savage race of people on the whole 

 continent of America." "They are," said Governor 

 Palliser, "the most savage people in the world." To- 

 day it would be hard to find a more quiet, placid, and 

 peaceable race. The change is due almost entirely to the 

 United Brethren. They have converted a race of primeval 

 savages, with whom murder was a passion and theft a 

 craze, into mild and simple Christians. The great miracle 

 has seldom been wrought on more unpromising materials 

 and with more amazing success. 



For their part, the Eskimos are not unmindful of 

 their friends and benefactors. "My dear Brethren and 

 Sisters," writes Simeon of Nain, "I am quite astonished at 

 your love for us, and distressed that I am not able to make 

 you any return. I have requested my teachers to trans- 

 late my words into your words, that you may understand 

 that I feel great gratitude toward you. I am Simeon." 



"I greet the unknown friends in Europe," writes Verona 



