Extracts from a Journal of a Voyage of Visitation in the Hawk, 1859 | Page 2

indeed, the most
thickly or largely inhabited part, a Church has been built, and one of
our Society's missionaries stationed for several years; and great, in
consequence, is the change, great the improvement in the residents.
Here, I have been enabled, as in other parts of the island, to celebrate
the services of consecration and confirmation, and to provide for the
administration of the Holy Communion. But until the census of 1857, I
was not aware of the large number of our people in White Bay and the
neighbourhood, or of the large proportion they bear to the whole
population. When, at the close of that year, I discovered that more than
three-fourths registered themselves members of the Church of England,
I resolved, should it please God to permit me, to make another voyage
in my Church-ship, that I would myself visit, and minister to, as I might
be able, these scattered sheep of my flock. A statement of their
condition, and of my services, assisted by the clergy who accompanied
me, cannot fail, I think, to interest and affect all those who can feel for
the sheep or the shepherd. It is with a view of awakening this Christian
sympathy in behalf of my poor diocese, and generally in the cause and
fork of your Society (by or through which both sheep and shepherd
have been so largely befriended and assisted) that I am desirous of

publishing those parts of the journal of my last voyage that relate to
White Bay.
"I have added the account of two days in the Bay of Islands, a locality
only so far more happily circumstanced than, or I should rather say not
so unhappily circumstanced as, White Bay, inasmuch as the inhabitants
have been twice before visited by myself in the Church-ship, and once
by the Missionary of the Belle-Isle Straits. The circumstances of both,
or of either, will, I think, justify the application of an apostle's question
to him--to any one--who, having an abundance of spiritual goods, can
see the need of these his brethren, and shut up his compassion from
them;--'How dwelleth the love of Christ in him?'
"I am, Yours faithfully, E. NEWFOUNDLAND."
THE REV. ERNEST HAWKINS.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] The last published was that of 1853.

EXTRACTS FROM A JOURNAL.

PART I.--WHITE BAY.
Thursday, July 7th. At sea, and Little Harbour Deep.--Passed Cape St.
John, at eight o'clock; several French vessels in the harbour: passed
Partridge Point soon after twelve o'clock, and entered White Bay. I had
intended to visit, in the first place, the settlements on the south side of
the bay, but the wind being adverse, we stood across to Little Harbour
Deep, not knowing that we should find any "livers" there; but hoping to
be able from thence to visit, or there to be visited by, the families
dwelling in Grande-Vache, or Grandfather's Cove, said to be only one
mile distant. On nearing the harbour, we saw and hailed a boat, which

proved to belong to the place, and in which were a man and his wife
returning from their salmon nets, which they overhaul twice a day. We
took them on board, and having no pilot, were glad to avail ourselves
of the man's knowledge of the place in beating in, which occupied two
hours, as the wind was blowing strongly and directly out. Theirs was
the only family living in the harbour. We informed them of the object
of our visit, which appeared to please them greatly, and they promised
to send to their neighbours in Grandfather's Cove (which proves,
however, to be nearly three miles distant) very early to-morrow
morning, and acquaint them with our presence, and our intention to
have services on board the Church-ship.
The appearance of these people was not so wild as might be expected
from their wild and lonely life. In the summer they occupy, by
themselves, this large harbour, shut in by immense cliffs, which no
person ever ascends or descends. In the winter they occupy and possess
the Horse-Islands, lying several miles from the shore, surrounded for
months by ice.
Seldom in either place do they see any human being, except the
members of their own family, and not one of the family can read. In
summer they catch salmon and codfish; and in the winter kill seals.
And yet they are not heathens or savages. The woman, though rowing,
was very neatly dressed, with a necklace, but no other superfluous
finery; the man was tidy; both were civil. They presented us with two
salmon, all they had in their boat, and promised us finer ones
to-morrow. They expressed much pleasure at the prospect of attending
the services, and of having their youngest child christened or admitted
into the Church. All had been baptized; some at