Taissumani, July 15

Blacklead Island, summer 2004, facing north into Cumberland Sound. (PHOTO BY KENN HARPER)

Aggaarjuk’s letter to Rev. E. W. T. Greenshield, written in 1909, continues: “While it was completely winter, I provided him [i.e. Hantzsch] with food, seal-meat, because he liked seal-meat very much.

“Indeed, truly I am distressed, because he died in the wilderness, he who was as my brother. Because he desired to have me as a friend, I consented. I could not think that he would die, of which death, truly his illness was the only cause…

“When he had only four dogs left, he said that he wished to make a journey, being absent about four Sundays, taking as his travelling companion Ittuksarjuaq (because he has no children). We waited for him there where we were. So they started off on this journey, he wishing to make a chart of that coast. But they were away for a very long time, because my brother was very ill, and Ittuksarjuaq’s wife was also very ill.

“Ittuksarjuaq brought him back to the place where I was awaiting them, and there in my tent he died.

“While he was there ill, whatever he desired we did for him. We complied with all his wishes. And he spoke thus to us, ‘Thank you very much,’ he said, because he was helped and cared for by us. ‘I am unable to write because I have no strength. But when you return, go and speak to Ilataaqauk [the Inuit name for Greenshield] because he is able to write. I cannot do so, I have no strength.’ He said that he thanked Ilataaqauk, because he provided him with food.

“This I must relate, that I was not able to help him with medicines, because I know nothing about the medicines. All I could do was to try to pray to God. Indeed, truly he is with God, for he believes in God. He said so while he was very ill.

“He also said this, while he was very ill, ‘Go, when you return, and take my goods, which are brought out from the white man’s land, for yourselves, because I am well cared for by all of you.’ So he gave them to us then. We wept continually while he was ill because of our love for him. And I gave him water whenever he wished to drink, and generally assisted him. My wife and I, from the time he arrived to us ill, did not sleep at all for four nights. Then on the fourth day, he died. I sorrow greatly, because he is dead.

“We made a suitable grave of stone, and it is in a good position. His body cannot be disturtbed by foxes or a wolf.

“We also did this. We wished to pray to God when we committed his body to the grave. We used the prayers to God for the Burial of the Dead, that he might be taken to be with Him truly. I know certainly that he is with God, because his faith was sufficient…”

This remarkable letter written by Aggaarjuk survives in the archives of the Anglican Church of Canada in Toronto. It tells touchingly of the death of the German ornithologist Bernhard Hantzsch, and of the care bestowed on him by two remarkable Inuit families.

Taissumani recounts a specific event of historic interest. Kenn Harper is a historian, writer and linguist who lives in Iqaluit. Feedback? Send your comments and questions to kennharper@hotmail.com.