THE MISSIONS 229 



lire of wealth. Fat in gallons is the coin of their realm. 

 To the Eskimo of the place, such a man and his mission 

 mean everything, pessimists notwithstanding. 



The next station is at Ramah, about a hundred miles to 

 the southeastward. The intermediate station of the Hud- 

 son's Bay Company at Nachvak has recently been with- 

 drawn, and the withdrawal of the Ramah station is under 

 consideration. The Eskimo here dwell in holes in the 

 ground with skin bowel-parchment windows that do not 

 open, and with roofs and entrances made of sods. There 

 are no islands near to supply birds and eggs ; the decrease 

 in the number of seal and walrus and the low market or 

 local value of sea-trout have seriously impoverished the 

 people. This poverty means that they are poorly equipped 

 for travel ; in consequence, they dawdle about the unsavoury 

 village when they should be seeking and finding sustenance, 

 gaining health and strength by migrating from place to 

 place as they always did of yore. Here they are much 

 more dependent upon the missionary, upon his supply of 

 clothing, and upon his kablenak or European food, than 

 is good for them. From their physical condition it is 

 perfectly easy to tell a Ramah Eskimo from a Cape Chidley 

 man, though you may never have seen either previously. 



A journey to the southward of nearly another hundred 

 miles brings us to the third station at Hebron. This is 

 still a good hunting station. Its Eskimo have been wisely 

 taught by the Brethren to segregate and not congregate. 

 No permanent village has come into being. A few sod 

 houses and one or two better houses exist. This would 

 to-day be probably far the most creditable settlement of 

 Eskimo, had it not been for the carrying of several families 



