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FTSUOPLEMNH RIEND.
3Heto Series, ttrt. 20. $0. ll.}
HONOLULU, NOVEMBER, 9, 1871.
“TaehsclpyL
edtsaofe and.”
A Discourse preached in the Seamen's Chapel,
Sabbath Morning, October 29th, by the
Rev. S. C. Damon!
[PUBLISHED
BT
REQUEST.]
Psalm 107:23. 24—"They that go down to the sea in ships,
aud dobusiness In great waters: Then* see the worka ol the
Lord, and his wonders in the deep."
Acts, 27:44—" And so it came to pass, that they escaped all
safe to land."
Sometimes God speaks to man, by His Providence, as clearly and distinctly, as if tin audible
voice was heard. Ordinarily men, in their carelessness and sin. neglect to recognize the hand
of God in tbe affairs of common life, bat occasionally God makes His power and presence so
manifestly felt that they involuntarily exclaim, in
the language of the Egyptian Magicians to Pharaoh, " This is the finger of God." Much as we
may endeavor to account for the changes and
revolutions in the material and natural world,
upon the operation of nature's laws, or the laws
of the Universe, yet over and above all these, the
minds of men are frequently so impressed that
they cry out. as did Jacob of old, '■ Surely the
Lord is in this place and I knew it not." Among
tbe hundreds who have recently escaped safe to
land, and been most signally delivered from extreme peril and danger, amid the rigors and
terrors of the Arctic Ocean, I have not met with
one who failed to recognize tbe interposition of
a most kind Providence.
To me, this has
been exceedingly pleasant. I delight to hear
men gratefully and reverently recognize God's
presence. It is proper and becoming that we
should always do so. No inspired or uninspired
writer ever made more touching and appropriate
allusions to the presence and agency of God,
than the Psalmist David. The passage selected
for our present consideration seems as if written
for this occasion. Human language could not
more accurately describe, in poetic style, the
circumstances, deliverance, and present condition
of those recently landing upon our shores, from
the Arctic Ocean :
"They that go down to tho sea In •bins, that do
business lv great waters; these tee tbe works of tbe
Lord, and bis wooden io the deep. For he commandetb, and ralseth the stormy wind, which liftetb
up the wavei thereof. They mount up to the heaven
they go down again to
the depths: their soul Is
melted .because of trouble. They reel to abd Iro,
and stagger like a drunken mao, and are at their
wit's end. Then they cry unto the Lord In their
t rouble, and he brlngath them out of their distresses.
He maketh tbe storm a calm, so that the waves
thereof are still. Then are they glad because they
be quiet; so he brlngeth them unto their desired
haven. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his
gooduess, and for his wonderful works to the children of men I"
The mariner sees manifestations of God's
power, Buch as are not to be seen upon land.
The land is stationary, but tbe sea is in motion.
It can not rest, except when congealed,
and then, even more than when in motion, God'g
mighty power is manifest. So thought those
who looked out upon an Arctic Sea, one day
lashed by the winds, and the next, frozen into
solid masses—aye. mountains of ice. One day,
that sea permitting the ship to glide through its
waters aa smoothly aa the bird cuts the air. but
the next day, the waters of Jhat same sea holding
that same ship in its tight grasp, as in a mighty
*ise, or, rather, taking some of them and crashA ship," I overheard fine
ing them to atoms.
to remark. was crushed as easy as an egg-shell."
In view of this vast display of the Almighty's
power, the most thoughtless must acknowledge
man's feebleness and weakness.
c.
For he,
"
"
ft.
Godl commandeth. and raiseth the" stormy wind,
which lifteth up the waves thereof." God has
but to speak, to say tlie word, and the stormy
winds go forth on their errands, to lash the ocean
and sweep fleets from its surface. Who that has
sailed much upon the ocean, has not often seen
the winds to lift up the very waters, and mingle
air and sea, so that you can scarcely discern the
line of separation ?
How aptly the inspired Psalmist describes the
voyagers upon the deep when in a violent storm.
mount to the heaven, they go down again
"toThey
the depths. Their soul is melted because of
trouble. Jftiey reel to and fro, and stagger like a
drunken man, and are nt their wit's end." Does
not this very accurately describe tbe uneasy position of the mariner in a storm ? " And are at
their wit'send." All their wisdom is gone. What
to do, they know not. Methinks, there were
moments and hours, when tbe ice was making
around your ships, that you were at your " wit's
end." What to do. you knew not. Should you
flee, or remain ? That wag the question. Every
hoar you saw the icy barrier crowding down upon
your ships, and on your lee was the barren, treeless, and desolate shore, while under their keels,
there was barely water enough to float your
ships. At such a time, and in such a place, and
with such surroundings, it would not be strange
if man should feel at " his wit's end." This Is
the language of the masters of those ice-encircled
ships :
"We think It would not Be prudent to leave a
single boul to lookafter oar vessels, aa the first westerly gale will crowd the Ice ashore, and either crash
the ship* or drive them high upon the beach. Three
of tbe fleet have already been crashed, sod two are
now lying hove out, which have been crashed by
tbe Ice, and are leaking badly. We have now Aye
wrecked crews distributed among as. We have
barely room to awing at anchor between the pack of
Ice and tbe beach, and are lying in three fathoms of
water. Should we be cast upon the beacb it would
be at least eleven months before we conld look for
assistance, and In all probability nine oat of ten
woald die of starvation or scurvy before the opening of spring."
Then they cry onto the Lord, and he bring"eth
them oat of their distresses."
T have no doubt that many earnest prayers
went up from that large number of distressed
89
and hard-pressed
{©ftSmeSsMsiu
mariners.
It has become a
proverb that in a storm the sailor prays, however
much he may neglect that duty at other times.
A violent storm at sea, when death stares tho
mariner in the face, brings him upon his knees
before God. He does tben what he ought to do
al all times, as our Saviour has taught that
men ought always to pray, and not to fuint."" No
duty is more plain and imperative than that of
prayer to God, in times of prosperity aud safely,
as well as of udversily aud danger—when sailing
a smooth sea, as well us when in a storm. In
this case God did verily bring these men out of
their distresses. They were bard-pressed. Their
written slulement is published to the world, that
tbey were a company of men in distress. Satan
sometimes speaks the truth, as he did in bis
answer to God with reference to Job. "And
Satan answered the Lord, and said, skin for skin ;
yea, all that a man hath will be give for bit life."
You gave up all. Ships and their valuable cargoes
were sacrificed —were abandoned.
" He, maketh the storm a calm, so that the
waves thereof ure still. Then are they glad because they be quiet." There were more than a
thousand glad hearts, when the storm abated and
tbe wind ceased its raging, and all in more than
a hundred boats, were quietly wafted, by a gentle breeze, along that narrow but open passage,
around Point lielcber to tbe open sea, where
were found seven ships, with just sufficient accommodations to bring all safely out of tbe
dangers and perils of the Arctic Ocean. Your
deliveranceresembled that of tbe Israelites when
passing through the Red Sea : " and tbe water*
were a wall unto tbem on their right band and on
their left." The icy barrier was a wall on your
right hand, and the land on your left. The signal
deliverance of so many from their perilous
situation, affords a not inapt illustration of
the deliverance ef sinners from that greater
and more fearful destruction which awaits all
who are unwilling to escape, by the passage
which has been opened up from the City of Destruction to tbe gates of the Celestial City. To
remain, would have been most fool-hardy and
presumptuous. It was not to be thought of.
Oaly one way of escape was offered. The open
and narrow channel was the path-way ol safety.
Your circumstances admitted of no delay. The
present opportunity must be immediately embraced. It was now, or never ! This was the
general feeling of all. As the angels aaid to Lot
and his companions, when fleeing out of Sodom,
Escape for thy life, look not behind thee,
"neither
stay thou in all the plain, escape to tbe
mountains, lest thou be consumed.'' So tbe
voice of Prudence—«m the angel of Safety, cried,
in the hearing of those imprisoned mariners,
Escape by this passage to tbe open sea., and
"trust
in God for a safe voyage to some desired
haven."
This is virtually the language of every gospel
minister to sinners, In every land and all ages.
on
�THE FRIEND, NOVEMBER, 1871.
90
Ppe
lives;
the gospel-door is now
for your
Turn from the broad roud into the narrow
Delay not."
" So He bringeth them to their desired haven."
How aptly these words of the Psalmist describe
the manner in which liod ImtTi brought yon and
your compuuions hither, lo this your much desired haven, flow pleasunt nnd grutifying after
having escaped tbe dangerd and perils of a rough
and tempestuous voyage, io cast anchor in a safe,
quiet and peaceful harbor—a haven to be desired.
" So God brings His people liuully lo their rest
in heaven—their haven, their home. After being
tossed by the tempests of life ; niter encountering its storms and dangers, the way becomes
smooth and calm ; the end of tbe voyage is serene and death is like the ship smoothly gliding
into port, with its suils all sot. The soul enters
the desired haven—the port that was longed
for ; a safe haven, beyond all storms or tempests;
an eternal home!"—[Barnes.J
In view of the works of the Lord and bis wonders in the deop,—in view of God's control over
the winds and storms,—in view of God's marvelous deliverance and the preservation of those going down to tho sea in ships.—in view of God's all
abounding goodness, the Psalmist breaks forth in
the following animating words : "Oh that men
would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for
his wonderful works lo Iho children of men."
Twice before in Ibis same psalm had he uttered
the same exclamation. In view of the wonderful display of God's wisdom, power and goodness,
on land aud sea, and over all created intelligences,
this overpowering impression weighed upon his
;
mind—man's great obligation to rendor thanksgiving and praise unto God for his goodness and
loving kindness, and providential mercies. Are
not you, my hearers, now delivered from imminent duugers and perils, called upon to join in
this grand chorus of thanksgiving and praise?
You nave experienced a deliverance, well-nigh
miraculous. The actual facts in the case without
any embellishment or rhetorical coloring, when
described in the simplest language, read more
Never was there a
like romance than reality.
similar disaster recorded in the annals of maritime enterprise. We have frequently read of
one or two ships abandoned and crews saved
wholly or in psrt, but it is surely an unheard
of event, for more than thirty ships, employing
more than u thousand mon, to be abandoned, together with their valuable cargoes, and that too,
on a bright morning in September. Methiuks 1
see that long fleet of boats loaded with provisions and manned by these hardy crews, commencing their journey along the narrow passage barely wido enough for a single boat. Onward moves
the long procession of more than a hundred boats,
retiring—uye, fleeing from the relentless grasp of
that icy enemy. Manfully, brave men—and braver
woman—faced the foe; inch by inch they contended, but silently and surely the icy barrier
pressed down upon the fleet. There was no alternative but to retire, and that with all possible
To remain was death, by cold and starhaste.
vation. "We think," say the captains, "it would
not be prudent to leave a single soul to look after
our vessels." In this instance, as in many oth-
ers, in the great struggle of life, "the better part
of valor wus discretion."
The first remark which I have to make, by the
way of reflection, on this occasion is, that we are
called upon to exercise the feeling of deepest
gratitude to God. The moment wo begin to contemplate what otherwise might have been tbe remit, our minds are filled with tho most fearful
and imaginings. Like Franklin and
his brave comrades, all night have perished, and
out one loft to tell the story of their starvation
and death. How striking the contrast! In the
case of Franklin, all pensked to a man ; now, all
to a man were saved and b«)B»*ht away. This very
morning arrived the last vessel with passengers
from tbe wrecked vessels. Shall we not all
gratefully give thanks? "Oh, that men would
praise the liord for his goodness and his wonderM works to the children of men!"
forebodings
Secondly—Let me call your attention to tbe
fact, that while all those ships and their cargoes
were lost, all their crews were saved ; and why ?
because they implicitly obeyed law. Water has
its laws; heat and cold have their laws. Obey
law and we are safe; ilisobey, and we perish.
There is really no mystery about the deliverauce
of all these human beings; all obeyed God's laws.
You saw clearly what those laws were; you carefully watched the operations of God's nnvurying
and uniform laws, nnd you saw what mast follow
if you disobeyed and tarried too long in those
cold regions. A nurrow passage, seemed left I
open, as if by God's special providence, for
the passage of your boats to an open Bea.
Just so God has provided a narrow passage, but
a safe one, to the regions of heavenly rest.
Christ says ;"I am the wuy, lam the door; by
me, if any one enter, he shall be saved." It is
not "a broad road" us sailh our Kuviour. but a
narrow path; follow that path and it will conduct
you to a heiiveuly home and a haven of everlasting rest. Surely, there could not be a more apt
illustration of Ihe gospel and the power of salvation, delivering from the etecnal ruin nnd death
which sin is sure to indict upon one nnd all, who
will not flee from '• the wrath to come." The
Apostle asks, '.'How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation V" Thero is no other way
of escape other than by the cross of Christ, "for
there is no other name given under heaven and
among men, whereby wo must be snved." As
the hardy whiileinuii was compelled to flee and
leave all bis hard-earned wealth behind him, so,
fellow-sinners, must we fleo from sin, and leave
the .world behind us, if we would be saved. You
employed the menus at hand for your deliverance
and salvation, so must we "work out our salvation
with fear uud trembling." looking unto Jesus,
"the .author and finisher of our faith." When
the Apostle Paul was wrecked with "the two
hundred, three-score and sixteen souls," all were
saved because they obeyed Paul's instructions;
so now you havo escaped because you obeyed
God s laws and carefully wntchedhis providences.
Let us all then obey the gospel call and flee unto
Jesus Christ, who will safely deliver us from the
ruins of the fall and our own sins, and will at
last bring us to heaven, the haven for all weary,
heavy-laden souls.
I
In our regular issue on the first of the
month, we published a brief notice of the loss
of the British whaleship Japan, in tne Arctic
Ocean, on the 9th of Oct., 1870. Since
that number appeared, one of the crew has
f imißhed the following interesting narrative
of the toss T me vessel, and some statements respecting the manner and customs of
the Esquimaux, which will interest our
readers :
a“SoCTnhtriphudwirsfeeJck apan.”
The bark Japan being tbe first whaler ever fitted out through Victorian Agency, no vessel ever
left port with greater expectations or well wishes
for prosperous voyage than she, when, on the
sth of March with ber lofty canvas spread to a
favorable breese, she soon left Melbourne and its
happy reminisoenoes far in the distance.which we
After a prosperous cruise, during
visited several of the picturesque islands which
New Zeabeautify the Soutb Paoiflc, we called atthe
Arctio
land, there to refit for a voyage to
ocean, and for that purpose lay in tbe Bay of
Islands, where, transhipping our oil, wo remained
till tbe 9th of March, on whioh day we weighed
anobor, and after passing through the tropics
without any incident worthy of remark, arrived
in the colder latitudes of tbe north. We sighted
tbe first ice on the 28th of April, and after capturing ten whales we squared our yards for the
south. On the morning of the Bth of October, a
strong gale of wind sprung up from the N. E.,
during which all our boats were swept from tbe
cranes. The gale increasing in fury during the
night, and a heavy fog setting in next morning,
the Captain was unable to obtain any observations, but sighting the ship Massachusetts running before the wind, and imagining the Captain
of her must have a good idea of his where-abouts,
determined to follow his example. The Japan
being the faster vessel, soon left tho other astern,
when all of a sudden to our consternation, we
observed land right under our bows, too close
however, to allow of our clearing it. She struck
soon after with terrific force, the sea at the same
time sweeping her decks fore and aft and carrying away everything offering resistance to its relentless force.
The greater number of the crow jumped overboard and endeavored to reach the shore (a distance of about two furlongs) eight of whom perished in the attempt. Two more unfortunate
men, refusing to leave the ship miserably perished
there. Two men having reached the beach in
safety, took a run, endeavoring to restore circulation to their almost frozen blood, and when
doing so were greatly surprised at beholding the
foot marks of a dog on the enow, which they
tractcd for a considerable distance, and to their
great delight, (the fog clearing off) espied an Es-
■
quimaux village. Immediately on doing so they
returned to their almost despair comrades, who
joyfully accompanied them to the village in which
one more of our number had to succumb to the
fearful cold.
It may be necossary here to state, that the
coast on which we found ourselves so suddenly
placed, was that of the extreme north of Siberia,
about 66° north latitude.
On arriving at the village, the inhabitants of
which though much surprised at our sudden appearance treated us with great kindness, giving
us skin clothing in exchange for our ice covered
garments, which they esteemed as a great prize,
(very few of them over having Been a whito man
before) at the same time placing before us some
raw walrus in a state of semi-putrefaction, which
in that state, being considered a great luxury
among them, created no small surprise at our
rejecting it. The gale decreasing, it fell a
calm, consequently the whole ocean was
frozen over, thus covering all that remained
of our ill fated ship, at the samo time
shutting off nil hopes of saving any provision.
And to make matters worse, wood being unobtainable in this desolate spot, we were denied the
luxury of a fire during the winter, either for culinary purposes or for warmth, which comforts are
quite unknowp to this benighted race.
It was a long time before we could partake of
any of their food, which is served up under such
revolting circumstances that decency forbids a
minute description ; but as the proverb says,
is tbe best sauce;" we bad to overcome
"ourhunger
scruples and after a few weeks could eat our
share with any of them.
Having come to the conclusion that exercise
was the only means of preserving health, wo used
to provide the houses with fresh water ice (for
which we had to take long journeys), which being
pounded up with oil is eaten with great gusto by
tho natives. We also performed long journeys to
the adjacent villages, (during which one more of
our number had to succumb to tbe fearful cold)
at all of which places we were received by the
inhabitants with great hospitality, and we looked
upon as little short ot deities. 1 having tbe fortune upon one occasion to stop an effusion of blood
from a child's nose in a house I was visiting, by
simply placing a piece of ice on its back, 1 was
looked upon as something supernatural.
The monotony of our winter life was only relieved by sleigh racing. In tbe spring, however,
we performed long excursions with tlie natives
after polar bears,seals, Ac. ; when we frequently
met with the natives of the American or eastern
�colder than their summer habitations, ns they
only lay skins on the ground when about to
sleep, which occupies the principal part of tho
winter. The only daylight is admitted through
holes cut in the rock, where in some instances ice
is used in lieu of glass. Although the natives
are devoid of any clothing, we could hardly keep
ourselves warm with our clothes on in these mis-
shore. They speak an entirely different dialect
from those on the Asiatic side, and seem a much
more savage race of people.
In such pursuits we managed to pass tbe time
until the month of March, on the 15th day of
which the ice opening a little, a great numbor of
whales were to be seen wending their way to the
northward. A few days later, schools of walrus
made their appearance, followed by large flocks
of ducks which proved a great addition to our
larder. The ice now breaking up, we lived in
anticipation of seeing somo adventursome
whaler forcing its way through an obstacle
which the sun's rays were daily lessening. We
were doomed to repeated disappointment, until
the 16th of June, when to our immeasureable delight, we sighted the bark John Wells of New
Bedford. But immediately on doing so it set in
a dense fog, lasting for three days, at the end of
which time we managed to get a canoe, which we
hauled a great distance over the ice and at last
launched it in the open water, when after paddling all day wo arrived on board at 8 P. Al.,
where we were received with great kindness by
the Captain, who provided us with clothing. We
erable dwellings.
The women are employed during the summer
months gathering gross, which they use when
dry in their mocassins ; also some bitter herbs
for edible purposes, which they collect in great
quantities, while the men, during that season,
are employed pursuing the whale and walrus in
canoes. These are formed of walrus hide stretched
on poles, and being very light nnd commodious,
they manage with great dexterity. In killing a
women accompany the
91
THE FRIEND, NOVEMBER, 1871.
proceedings with discor-
dant yells, completing the horror of this revolting
scene. The body is then arrayed in its best robes,
and with all other personal effects placed on a
sleigh, when it is conveyed some distance and
there deposited, to be devoured by dogs, crows
and other animals.
There being little daylight the greater part of
four months, the Aurora Borealis is seen to its
greatest advantage during that time, a description
of which would tall far short of tbe reality. The
monotony of the snow covered expanse of ocean
and earth is only relieved hy tho contrary iniignilicciicc of the heavens, out of which shoot with
rich resplendant rays the beautiful prismatic
colors of the Northern Lights, added to which the
moon's soft light tends to complete the magnificence of this wonderful and glorious atmospheric
whale, which occupies a considerable length of phenomenon.
The heavens declare the glory of Cod, and the
time, the canoes glide so noiselessly through tho
water, (and the whale being very slothful) the firmament showeth his hanui-work &c.
first notice of their near approach is occasioned
JosEI'II Mini !..
by one of the natives darting a harpoon, made of
of
which
is
a
line
made
walrus
attached
ivory, to
LS
tMOn“eWoifute oon.”
hide. At the end of the line is made fast seal
were finally distributed among the numerous skins inflated with wind. This process being
In conversation with a very scneiblo and reliwhalers thon rapidly flocking through the straits, repeated, prevents tho whale sounding, when
and on board of which we remained until that they dispatch him with repeated blows from able first officer of one of the lost ships in the
unfortunate fleet, numbering over 33 vessels, was various ivory weapons. The blubber is then Arctic, we asked him this question
" Did you
blocked in by the ice at Point Franklin. The divided, taken ashore, and placed in pits, the
not quit your vessel too soon, ought you not
fleet was deserted on the 17th of September, and warmth of which soon reduces it to a state of deafter traveling a considerable distance in the composition, in which state it is eaten,and consid- to havo waited a little longer?" He replied
boats wo were fortunate enough to meet with seven ered a great luxury by them, as before stated.
with much decision, " We left not one minute
The walrus is caught in a similar manner. It too soon.*' This appears
vessels, which not venturing so far in the ice
to be the unanimous
were enabled to take us on board, and in ono of is not only the staple food of tbe settlement, but opinion of all the masters, officers and seamen,
the
hide
for
and
huts,
canoes,
material
provides
them, (the bark Chance of Sydney), we arrived
nets for catching seal, the last are made something with whom we have conversed.
at Honolulu after a pleasant passage.
similar to our fishing nets.
We have heard an opposite opinion expressed
MANNERS AND CUSTOMS 01' TBE ESQUIMAUX.
The hunting ashore is confined to the winter by some who never saw the Arctic Ocean. It is
The coast of North Siberia presents a very months, the chief objects of pursuit being deer, an easy matter in Honolulu, with the thermometer
barren and rugged aspect, being utterly devoid of bears, foxes, and a species ofRussian rabbit. The
all vegetation with the exception of a few hardy weapon chiefly in use is the bow and arrow. The at 80 ° , to criticise the actions of men who have
herbs and mosses, which grow wilh rapidity former is made of wood inlaid with deer sinews ; faced danger and starvation under the shadow of
during the summer months. The interior is, the latter, in common with their other weapons, icebergs, and while the icy barrier was momenthowever, very flat, and only diversified by large is barbed with ivory. The brown bear, which arily pressing a fleet of ships on the barren shores
rivers, winding through this desolate waste of sleeps during all the winter months, is held in of Siberia. We have no doubt that the owners
which it is composed, which in summer are well great terror by the natives when ho comes out
stocked with fish and water fowl, numbers of almost famished after his long fast, and is seldom and agents of whaleships and Insurance Comconwhich migrate to these barren regions during molested by them. The white bear, on the
panies in New Bedford, sealed before a good coaltrary, falls an easy prey, one man being able to fire, will express their deliberate opinion that the
this season.
The natives of tire Asiatic side of the Arctic despatch him with a lanco.
Polygamy is indulged in to an unlimited extent fleet was abandoned too soon. We have been
ocean, on whiob we were wrecked, are a mixed
race, supposed to originate from a mingling of by the natives, each man having as many wives permitted to read the private journal of one of
the Russian and Tartar tribes. They are of a as he can provide for. In case of marriage, tbe shipmasters, whose ship was saved, and it
medium height, and uncommonly stout in pro- (which is only a matter of form) after a proba- tells a
story of anxiety that ought to silence all
portion to their stature. Some are of a dark tion of a few weeks, if the lady does not meet the foolish
censure of those shipmasters who wero
husband's
is discarded and sent
she
expectations,
nearer
the
color,
while
others
copper
approach
of
a
;
being
the
back
to
her
to leave behind them thoir hard-earned
parents
upon
proof
given
features
and
Though
compelled
European
complexion.
features of the men are exempted from the savuge wife's infidelity part of her nose pays the forfeit wealth. The idea that thirty-three shipmasters
custom of tattooing, those ol tho women are not of her crime. Many victims to this rigorous law and their crews abandoned theirice-bound vessels,
so, some of whom would be pretty were it not we met with at the different villages we traveled
except from stern and dire necessity is not be
through.
for the rude devices about their face and arms.
Maternal
love
is
entertained
in
exemplified
tly's
seldom
for one moment.
strongly
They
engage in any quarrels among
themselves, unless when under the influence of savage race, as even a cross word or look to the
The following brief journal of Mr. Earl, Chief,
alcohol, which they procure from the traders, children brings upon the offender the perfectual officer of tbe Emily Morgan, which was among
when any misdemeanor committed by them resentment of the parents, whereas by taking any the lost, we are glad to publish. The entry on
during that time is freely forgiven after the per- notice of tbe former you insure their lasting gratthe 12th of September, indicates what the fate
nicious effects of the liquor have paused away. itude, and initiated as one of the family.
And such is their immoderate love of the narcotic
As a race, the Esquimaux are very healthy, of those men might have been, had no ships been
weed, that children of both sexes are to be seen a seldom having sickness of any kind, and I believe spared te have brought away the crews of the
lew months old engaged in the most Christian are the only race which have no herbs for medi- abandoned vessels:—
accomplishment of chewing.
cinal purposes. Amongst their numerous superIn the summer months, they live in huts umde stitions, they believe that if any of them die a
Sept. I—Light southerly winds with overcast
of walrus hide, inside of which is a small square natural death, their soul goes to infernal regions,
weather. The ice pressing in upon tbe land. All
apartment made of deer skins, which is used as a of which place they have a great abhorrence;
dining, sitting and bedroom, irrespective of sexes, thorcfore to prevent such a contingency, they egress from our present position is cut off, both to
the only ornament consisting of a stone hollowed,
an end to the sick man's existence, after a north and south, as the ice is driven up into 3
in which is placed small pieces of blubber, and ew days sickness by breaking his neck, which is feet of water. The bark Roman is carried off
having moss as a substitute for wick, (which accomplished by leaning that part of the body on in the pack.
they ignite by friction caused by rubbing two a strap of hide and two heavy men jumping on
Sept. 2.—Light and variable winds, mostly
pieces of bard wood together) and this is used as the stomach of tho prostrate body. They put tbe
a lamp. On entering this apartment, they all tail of the best dog lq tho house into tbe mouth from the southern bound. Tbe main pack is
undress, being careful to take their mocassins off of the victim, meanwhile beating his body with slowly but steadily advancing toward the land,
with their feet towards the entrance, to which feathers and strips of whalebone from his ankles pressed in
by tbe vast field to tbe northwest of us.
rules we were obliged to conform, although at towards his head, by which process tbey believe
morning
This
at 1 A. M., the brig Comet was
first repulsive to our feelings.
the sins of the unfortunate are driven into the
In winter they live in holes excavated in the body of tbe animal. After which the dog is im- crushed by the ice and sold at auction, with ail
mountain side, which we thought however much mediately killed. During this ceremony, the her stores, oil, Ac, fur thirteen dollars. Tho
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THE FRIEND, NOVEMBER, 1871.
CMY.H
Aof onolulu.
crew of tbe Roman came down to the fleet, she
having been crushed hy the ice, the men barely
escaping with their lives. The Reindeer was
Tobacco.
hard pressed by tbe ice.
Kind reader, before you turn away with
Sept. 3.—Light and variable winds, mostly
j the remark that " practice is better than prefrom the southward.
Sept. 4. —Light westerly wind with fog; ice cept," listen to our position.
It may be a forlorn enterprise for a society
opens a little, but the main pack seems immovable.
men, for even a Y. M. C. A., to
of
s.—Light
breeze
from
S.
N. N. E. to E. E. takeyoung the
Sept.
tomahawk against the use of
up
At 12 M., cast off'from the ice and came to iv the
this
favorite
and delightful narcotic,
very
i
hind-water.
we do not know as we are prepared to
and
Sept. G.—Early part of the day light and vari- incur the responsibilities of such a step.
able winds. In lhe afternoon light breeze at Still;
from the fact that circumstances to a
i
S. W., increasing to a fresh wind canting to W. I 1 partial extent, disable us from exerting an
Sept. 7. —Begins with fresh wind from S. W. i{absolute influence against the use of the
canting to N. W. Saw whales, struck one ; the 1weed, from our example, we more forcibly
second officer accidentally shot himself through jI feel the importance of making the most of
the bend with a bomb gun, the lance passing i the resources left to us, to wit: line upon
through his head, killing him almost instantly. line and precept upon precept, against its
abuse at least.
I jitter part of the day calm.
There are several reasons why a pressure
Sept. B.—Begins with fresh winds from S. W.,
in this direction at this time from young
|
canling early in the day to N. W. The main jjmen is peculiarly
Opposition
pack pressing in upon us, endangering the ship. ] (rom other sources isimportant.
growing weaker: the
The anchor weighed and run in shore nn eighth 1
of a mile nnd came to in 3J fathoms of water, jj anti-tobacco apostles nre becoming fewer in
this eighth of a mile is all the navigable water ! number: their most violent philippics, from
between the heavy masses of ground ice and land, !| constant repetition and a free jumping at
und the pack still advancing. There seems to he I conclusions, are losing the force and influlittle hope of escaping from our present position ; ence they once possessed.
to tho north is simply impossible, to the south
The subject is fnst passing from the field
the greatest depth of water along tlie ice is G feet,
of
morals and religious supervision
and decreasing hourly.
the refined side of Humanity;
Woman,
of
the
fresh
breeze
Sept. 9.—First part
day
natufrom N. W., and N. N. W. All of the northern the non-users, from whom we might
all
influence
on
rally
powerful
against
expect
the
fleet
portion of
except the George, Gay Head,
und Concordia, (locked in the icejeame down and the indulgence, is content with ruling out
anchored to S. W., of us. The ice is still slowly bad tobacco and liking the "smell of a good
rinsing upon us ; no drift ice afloat in the land- cigar" when burnt before her shrine in the
water.
censer of manly lips, condemns the pracSept. 10.—Havethe wind fresh from N. N. W. tice in modified and negative terms but with
to N. E., with clear cold weather. By sunshine a saving clause in favor of high-toned
the ice had made an inch thick in the land-water,
smoking.
so there was considerable difficulty in moving
There ore also peculiar reasons why the
nhout with a whale-boat. Tbe Reindeer and
Contest weighed anchor in the forenoon and for influence of young men on this question
nearly an hour scarcely moved, so firmly had the should be valuable and effective. Some,
ice made around tbem. At G P. M., weighed from their own experience, are enabled inanchor and run down about a mile to S. W. telligently to warn others.
Somi, by a
whore we had tho protection of a shoal of 9 feet
temperate use and a delicate appreciation of
water off shore of us. As tbe ice had thawed a the
proprieties of pipe and cigar, rebuke
great deal during the day we made better headthe
sensuality of excessive smokers.
stupid
than
the
Contest
and
Reindeer.
way
Yesterday
four boats left the ship to endeavor to establish A few, a very few, who have broken off the
communication with the lower portion of tbe fleet habit, are living examples of heroic selfwhich is supposed, or hoped, to be off ley Cape. sacrifice. Here and there those, rare in this
The wind, though favorable, has not moved tlie
epidemic age, who, having lived up to the
ice.
admonitions of their childhood and never
Sept. 11.—Light breeze from E.,with overcast tampered with the, to them, infernal drug,
weather and toward night rain. Broke out proinstances of an
visions and boiled six barrels of beef, furnished in any form, become shining
two boats with provisions and clothing for the exceptional but possible virtue and of the
crew for a start southward. As I write, ono of■ practicability of retaining health and spirits
the boats that started two days ago has returned | without the assistance of the soothing and
reporting thatthere are three ships in clear water medicinal qualities of tobacco.
and a prospect that four more will soon be in
In looking at this subject at this day, the
safety. Tbe ice has been pressed up on the outerifact that all men smoke, or have smoked or
shoal a short distance to-day.
will smoke, must be taken into consideration ;
Sept. 12.—The Captain left io the starboard it is not to be denied that there are excepboat at 4 A. M., leaving orders for me to act acthe right
cording to circumstances ; " if the other ships tional cases, but these number about
support
of
the
whole
to
logically
proportion
are abandoned to abandon ours at the same time
—to do as the others do." For my part I will this rule. With this state of things many of
not crass the Arctic ocean in an open whale-boat the old arguments against the use of tobacco
laden with men and provisions in the latter part i are weak and suitable only for a by-gone
of the month of September and October. As far
age. What do men care that no creature
as Icy cape there is no danger, but beyond that,
tobacco but an
(if all ships' companies have to take to boats to besides man will touch
ugly green worm "(?) when a smoking huBearing's Strait) tbe ssa is dangerous at this season of tbe year. Out of tbe fourteen hundred manity gives its use respectability ! And
men not a hundred will survive. I will return then that statement is utterly unsupported
from ley Cape if ships cannot be found. At 5 by facts.
When sheep break into a tobacco
A. M., I started two other boats with provisions. field, they munch the growing leaves with
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apparent relish. The deer of the Philadelphia parks are badly addicted to chewing
tobacco, which visitors give to them through
the railings of their enclosure.
What influence then, shall be brought to
bear to lessen and remove the evilsconnected
with its use or abuse? We acknowledge the
fact that these evils are great and widespread ; it is a humiliating truth that there
are men who are content to make themselves
exceedingly disagreeable by an intemperate
use ; it is sad enough that so many men are
so weak and shallow ns to idolize the narcotic stimulation and for its sake to sacrifice
the pure and refined influences that come to
men, sinking gradually but surely out of
their reach, deeper nnd deeper into those
lower stratus of existence characterized most
by a mere sensual and animal contentment.
The anti tobacco men say that " the
weed," usually putting an adjective before
the word weed which we do not consider
necessary, must be swept from the universe
and its use blotted out. If it could be really
exterminated ; every plant, root, seed, leaf,
plug, twist, cigar, cigarette and al! fine-cut,
absolutely and forever destroyed, that would
end tlie matter; the use and abuse of tobacco would speedily cease, and we should
be satisfied; but until this is done it is as
hopeless to expect that its use will come to
an end within many centuries or before the
millennium as it would be to expect that the
use of salt, a very injurious article of food according to Dr. Graham, will cease in the
same time.
The prejudice of some people is so strong
that they are unable to distinguish between
moderate use and abuse. To know that a
man smokes, to see him with a cigar or a
pipe in his mouth is sufficient for their fullest condemnation.
While the truth is, the
difference or the gap, in matters of habit
and effects, between a moderate and excessive smoker is far greater than that between
a moderate smoker and one who does not
smoke at all.
The casual reader may suspect that this
article is really a defense of moderate smoking, and that we agree with the ladies who
like the aroma of a "good cigar" and perhaps such an inference might easily be
drawn, but it will be seen that we have not
discussed that feature of the question at all,
that we have only spoken of its principle relatively and mentioned its facts historically :
we have not space here, and perhaps not the
conviction to justly nnd truly represent this
part of the subject. But now we are on the
field against intemperance and excess, and
are free and nerved to run our best tilt
against these cleat-lined and destructive
foes of men, as well in this field, as in
matters of eating and drinking. And we
feel that we have the sympathy of most
men and women in saying that no one has
a right to indulge in a habit that makes him
personally disagreeable to those about him :
that no one has a right to injure his health,
to prejudice his influence on men, or to do
that which will lower and brutalize himself,
for the sake of the simple satisfaction and
pleasure of narcotic stimulation.
No one has a right to carry an indulgence,
which may even be perfectly right in itself,
to that degree in which it will prejudice and
interfere with a higher good or end.
�
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The Friend (1871)
Dublin Core
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The Friend - 1871.11.09 - Newspaper
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1871.11.09