[Gutenberg 21819] • Kalli, the Esquimaux Christian: A Memoir

CONTENTS

PAGE Kallihirua the Esquimaux 7 Her Majesty's Ship "Assistance" 8 Cape York 9 Kallihirua on board the "Assistance" 10 The Esquimaux Graves 11 Kallihirua's Family 12 Lines on "Kallihirua in the Ship" 13 Description of the Esquimaux 15 Admiral Beechey's Account 16 The Seal 17 The Narwhal 18 Sir W. Edward Parry's Account 19 Need of Christian Instruction 21 Kallihirua's Tribe 22 Kallihirua in England ib. His fondness for Prints and Drawings 23 Seal Hunter 24 Sights in England 25 Great Exhibition of 1851 26 St. Augustine's College 27 College Studies 28 Reverence for Sacred Places 29 Illness from changes in the Weather 30 Greenland-Esquimaux Vocabulary 31 Visit to Kalli at College 32 His Amusements and Occupations 34 Baptism of Kallihirua 36 Stanzas by the Warden 43 Kalli at St. John's, Newfoundland 45 Death of Archdeacon Bridge 47 Intelligence from Newfoundland 48 Allusion to Prince Le Boo 49 Accounts from St John's 50 Letter from Kalli 51 Kalli's Illness and Death 52 Legacy to a Friend 56 Funeral 57 Intended Memorial 58 Practical Reflections 59 Conclusion 60

ILLUSTRATIONS

Portrait of Kallihirua To face Title Page Map, including his Birthplace To face Page 10 Entrance to a Snow Hut Page 15 Esquimaux Striking a Narwhal 18 Seal Hunter 24 Walrus and Seal 35 St. Martin's Church, Canterbury To face page 39

KALLIHIRUA THE ESQUIMAUX.

Kallihirua, notwithstanding the disadvantages of person (for he was plain, and short of stature, and looked what he was,--an Esquimaux), excited a feeling of interest and regard in those who were acquainted with his history, and who knew his docile mind, and the sweetness of his disposition.

Compliance with the precept in the Old Testament, "Love ye the stranger[1]," becomes a delight as well as a duty in such an instance as that about to be recorded, especially when we consider the affecting injunction conveyed in the Epistle to the Hebrews, "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares[2]."

[Footnote 1: Deut. x 18.]

[Footnote 2: Heb. xiii 2.]

Her Majesty's Ship "Assistance"

Erasmus Augustine York, whose native name was Kallihirua, was brought to England on board Her Majesty's ship "Assistance," Captain Erasmus Ommanney, in 1851. Captain Ommanney was second in command of the expedition under the orders of Captain Horatio Austin, C.B., which was dispatched in May, 1850, in search of the missing vessels of Sir John Franklin, the "Erebus" and "Terror". Franklin had quitted England on his perilous and fatal enterprise in May, 1845.

Much interest was attached to the young Esquimaux, who was considered to be about sixteen years of age in August, 1850. He was one of a tribe inhabiting the country in the vicinity of Wolstenholme Sound, at the head of Baffin's Bay, in 76° 3' north latitude, the nearest residents to the North Pole of any human beings known to exist on the globe. He was the only person ever brought to this country from so high a northern latitude. His tribe was met with by the late Sir John Ross, during his voyage in 1818, and was by him called the Arctic Highlanders.

Cape York

It appears that, when the expedition under Captain Austin's command was passing Cape York, in August, 1850, after its release from the ice in Melville Bay, natives were seen from the "Assistance". Captain Ommanney went with the "Intrepid" (one of the vessels comprising the expedition) to communicate with them, when it was ascertained that H.M.S., "North Star," had passed the winter in the neighbourhood. The fate of this vessel was then a matter of anxiety, as by her instructions she had been cautioned to avoid passing the winter in those regions.