took hold of both his hands, and begged him to sit down by him.  Brother Kohlmeister inquired, whether he knew him.  The old man replied:  “Thou art Benjamin, often have I heard thy name at Okkak.  I therefore rejoice to see thee.”  He seemed quite at a loss, what way to express his affection; and at length delivered a strap of seals’-leather to Mr. Kohlmeister, with these words:  “I am poor, and have nothing else to give thee, yet I wish to give thee some token of my love.”  Brother Kohlmeister accepted of his present, and inwardly cried to the Lord, to show mercy to this poor ignorant heathen.  “You are old,” said he, “and have not much more time to live in this world, will you not turn to that Jesus, who has died for your sins also?  It is not His desire that you should perish, and be lost in everlasting darkness, but that you should live with Him in the place of light and immortal bliss.”  The old man replied:  “What shall I do? thy words are very pleasant, and I would fain hear much more of Jesus.  I do not wish to be lost in the place of darkness.”  Brother Kohlmeister answered, that if he sincerely wished to be saved, and was troubled on account of his sinful life he should believe in, and call on the name of Jesus, who would certainly hear and reveal Himself unto him.  Many people were present in the tent, who behaved with great decency, and whom Brother Kohlmeister earnestly addressed on the necessity of conversion.  He wished to prolong the conversation especially with the old man, who promised, that he would never forget the words spoken to him, but it was growing late, and we returned to our cabin.  The poor old man having sore legs, some medicine was left for him.

The passage from Kangertluksoak to Saeglek is about twenty English miles.  Saeglek is a considerable promontory, open to the south.

CHAPTER IV.

  Departure from Saeglek.  Fruitless attempt to reach Nachvak. 
  Retreat into Nullatartok Inlet.  Slate Bay.  Detention on account
  of the Ice.  Arrive at Nachvak.

July 2d.—­At one A.M. we set sail, steering for Nachvak, a distance of about thirty miles.  Here a chain of mountains runs north and south, nearly parallel with the coast.  The coast itself is of moderate height, but very steep, and not being defended by any island, the approach to it as a lee-shore, is very dangerous.  It runs generally in a pretty strait line about forty miles, when a wide bay opens, in which lies, towards the north, an island called Karngalersiorvik, where there is said to be a good harbour for boats.  The rocks, of which the mountains are composed, are of a white grey colour, streaked almost perpendicularly with veins of black stone, about two feet broad.  The intermediate strata may be about eight times as broad.  We had hoped to reach Nachvak in the morning, by continuing our course through the following night, though the wind was weak and variable, but in the evening we got into drift-ice:  yet as the shoals were not close together, we worked our way through them; and stood on with the little wind we had at S.E.