202 MORAVIAN MISSIONS. 



spot for their building, on the nearest habi- 

 table fart of the coast, to which they afterward 

 gave the name of New Hernnhutt ; and having 

 consecrated it with prayer began to run up a 

 Greenland hut of stones and sods, in which 

 they might find shelter, until they had erected 

 a wooden house. At first the natives regarded 

 them with contempt, concluding from the 

 readiness with which they engaged in every 

 kind of manual labour, that they were the Fac- 

 tor's servants; and being scattered among the 

 islands and hills to fish, catch seals, and hunt 

 deer, while in winter they made journies on 

 sledges to their acquaintance upwards of a hun- 

 dred leagues North or South ; the Brethren had 

 little access to them, and but faint hopes of 

 making any permanent impression on their 

 minds in their wandering mode of existence. 

 Some of the natives, however, paid a visit to 

 them, but it was only from curiosity to see their 

 buildings, or to beg needles, fish hooks, knives, 

 and other such articles, if not to steal ; and no 

 proffered advantages could tempt them to re- 

 main for a short time at the Settlement. Till 

 at length when they understood that the object 

 of these faithful, tried, and persevering Mission- 

 aries was not to trade with them, but to make 

 them acquainted with their Creator ; and when 



