ARRIVAL AT HOPEDALE, THE SOUTHERN STATION.

Hopedale, Zoar, Nain, Okak, Hebron, Raman; these are our Labrador mission-stations in order from south to north, and as we visited them in the “Harmony,” with one exception.  From Okak we went straight to Ramah, and returned southward to Hebron, whence we sailed for Europe.  Each station consists of the mission premises and a group of Eskimo dwellings, situated on the shore of a bay, affording safe and convenient anchorage for the ship which brings supplies.  From Hopedale to Ramah is about 250 miles, “as the crow flies,” but the ship traverses a hundred miles more in its passages from place to place.  The distances between the stations are about as follows:—­

Hopedale to Zoar 90 miles  Okak to Hebron  70 miles. 
Zoar to Nain     40  "     Hebron to Ramah 60   "
Nain to Okak     80  "

The accompanying log of our voyage gives a resume of its history.  I will take up my more detailed sketches on the day when we arrived at Hopedale, the southern station.

The 119th voyage of the society’s vessel.

(28th of present barque “Harmony.”)

     June 20.  Wed.—­Farewell Service in London Docks.
       " 23.  Sat.—­Left London. 
     July 3.  Tues.—­Arr. at Stromness (Orkney Isles).
       " 6.  Fri.—­Left Stromness.

     (London to Labrador, 41 days.)

     Aug. 3.  Fri.—­Arr. at Hopedale.
       " 13.  Mon.—­Left "
       " 14.  Tues.—­Arr. at Zoar.
       " 19.  Sun.—­Left "
       " 19.  Sun.—­Arr. at Nain.
       " 27.  Mon.—­Left "
       " 29.  Wed.—­Arr. at Okak. 
     Sept. 5.  Wed.—­Left "
       " 9.  Sun.—­Arr. at Ramah.
       " 14.  Fri.—­Left "
       " 17.  Mon.—­Arr. at Hebron.
       " 25.  Tues.—­Left "

     (Stay in Labrador, 53 days.)

     Oct. 26.  Fri.—­Re-entered London docks.

     (Homeward Voyage, 31 days.)

     The whole voyage occupied 125 days, or close upon 18 weeks.

August 3rd, 1888.  It is six weeks all but a day since we left London.  We might have reached Hopedale three days ago, for we were within eighty miles.  But a dense fog made it impossible to venture among the islands, where drift ice might be added to the dangers of rocks.  So we have been driving to and fro for the last three days and nights over a high sea, studded with icebergs hidden from us by a thick white mist, which made everything wet and cold.  It has been the least pleasant and most anxious part of our voyage hitherto.  This morning the fog cleared away, and we could see how good the Lord had been to us, for the icebergs were still surrounding us, but had never been permitted to come nigh our vessel. (Not till later did we know how well He had not only protected but piloted us.  Drift ice beset the whole coast, but during those three days it cleared away southward.  Nor could we have reached Hopedale by the usual southerly route, past the Gull Island, even on August 3rd.  The course by which we were taken, nolens volens, was the only one open).