11 



wrote to the Bishop: "My dear Johannes: thou knowest that 

 I am an old Greenland traveller. I have also an amazing 

 affection for these countries, Indians, and other barbarians, 

 and it would be a source of the greatest joy if the Saviour would 

 discover to me that He had chosen me and would make me fit 

 for this service." A vessel was fitted out in 1752, and Erhardt 

 chosen as interpreter and supercargo. Four other missionaries 

 accompanied him. On July 31 they arrived on the Labrador coast, 

 in what is now known as Fords bight, latitude 55° 10'. Here 

 they landed and began the erection of a station. The Eskimo 

 appeared friendly, being particularly pleased to meet a white 

 man who could speak their own language, and a brisk barter 

 trade was carried on. On September 5, the vessel, which was 

 named the Hope, went north for further trade. Ten days later 

 it returned with the sad news that Erhardt and a party which 

 included the captain and five of the crew as well, had been mur- 

 dered on the 13th on going ashore to trade with a strange tribe 

 of Eskimo. Consequently the other missionaries decided to 

 abandon the station. 



The seed of the gospel had been sown in blood. It remained 

 for a Labrador apostle to be raised up similar to the great mis- 

 sionary of Greenland, Egede. He was forthcoming in the person 

 of Jens Haven. Jens Haven was a poor German carpenter, who 

 knew nothing of Eskimo and little English. Yet, when he had 

 once decided to take up this work, he set himself to accomplish 

 it with a determination which overcame all difficulties. In 

 1758 he went to Greenland and learned the Eskimo language. 

 In 1762, he declared his intention to the Moravian church, and, 

 after much discussion, they permitted him to make the attempt, 

 but could offer no aid. Haven made his way to London, 

 where he met Palliser, the newly-elected Governor of Newfound- 

 land, who gave him not only his hearty sympathy, but the neces- 

 sary assistance. 



Haven was assisted in getting to the Labrador shore on his 

 first trip by the famous Captain Cook. He was greatly disap- 

 pointed in not seeing the Eskimo at Chateau bay, as they had 

 left the district. But at Carpunt, a few days later, one returned, 



