CONTENTS. INTRODUCTION. Page Object of the expedition-First colonization of Greenland, by Erik RaudeContradictory accounts of the country-Discovery of North America by the Greenland colonists-Arnold, first bishop of Greenland-The West Bygd destroyed by the Skrællings-Andreas, last resident bishop of Greenland-Intercourse with Greenland discontinued-Letter of Pope Nicholas V., mentioning the partial destruction of the East Bygd, in 1418-Conjectured to have been effected by an English fleet-Archbishop Walckendorff proposes an expedition for the rediscovery of the lost colonies-Prevented by his exile and death-Expeditions despatched without success by Christian III. and Frederick III.-Expedition of Lindenow and Hall-Second expedition of Lindenow-Attempt of Carsten Rikardsen-Jens Munk's expedition; miserable fate of his crew-The Chancellor Früs despatches two ships to Greenland in search of gold-Voyages of Daniel Danel; information respecting the East coast furnished by them-Expedition of Otto Axelsen-Hans Egede becomes pastor of a settlement in Greenland-Attempts to visit the East coast, and discovers some remarkable ruins-Major Paars and Captain Landorf's attempts-Population of the West coast-Expedition of Peter Olsen Vallöe-Fallacy of Scoresby's opinion respecting the approach to the East coast-Uncertainty of the site of the East Bygd-Preparations for a new expedition-Authorities for the map 1-16 VOYAGE TO GREENLAND.-1828. Sail from Copenhagen-Experiments on the local attraction of the compass -Pass Sumborough Head, Shetland-Error in the dead-reckoning— Uniform system of signals desirable-Land-birds at sea-The Sunkenland-van-Buss, an imaginary danger-Easterly current in the latitude of 57-58-The "Great Ice;" unusual appearance of the seaTemperature of the sea-Current along the shores of GreenlandReach Frederick's-hope-Otto Fabricius 17-24 VOYAGE IN A BOAT TO JULIANA'S-HOPE, DETENTION THERE, AND AT NENNORTALIK.-1828-29. Leave Frederick's-hope-The angmaksak fishery-Icelandic ruins; supposed to be those of the Middle Bygd-Aurora harbour-Arrival at Juliana's-hope; its history-Greenland woman's-boat-The kajak, or man's-boat-Ernenek engaged for the expedition-Ruins near Juliana'shope-Arrival at Lichtenau - Nennortalik; Friederichsthal - Hotsprings at Ounartok-Remarkable cavern at Akkia-Akkia supposed to be the "Langey" of the ancients-Exploration of the ruin called Kakortok church-Its comparatively perfect condition-Traditions of the natives-Survey of the district of Juliana's-hope-Reindeer huntingGreenland earth-huts-Excursion to the eastward-Nick-names-Return to Nennortalik, to pass the winter-Visits from the natives— Winter occupations-Aurora borealis EXPEDITION TO THE EAST COAST.-1829. Explanation of the regular appearance of the drift-ice-Preparations for departure-Leave Nennortalik-Detention at Nukalik; game caughtPosition of Cape Farewell-Itiblirsoak-Detention at KikkertakActivity of Ernenek-Departure from Kikkertak-Island of Alluk; 25-54 annual fair held there-Detention at Nenneetsuk; notions of a future Page 54-110 WINTERING AT NUKARBIK; WITH SOME REMARKS ON THE CLIMATE, POPULATION, &c. OF THE EAST COAST.-1829-30. Take possession of our winter dwelling-Scarcity of provisions and fuel- Departure from Nukarbik-Greenland arithmetic-Detention at the "Isle OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS то W. A. GRAAH, ESQ., FIRST LIEUTENANT, ROYAL NAVY. HIS MAJESTY THE KING having been graciously pleased, by Royal Mandate bearing date the 18th of last December, to nominate you to the command of an Expedition having for its object to explore the East coast of Greenland, from Cape Farewell to lat. 69° North, We, the undersigned Commissioners specially appointed to direct the preparations for, and subsequently to superintend, the same, communicate to you the following Instructions for your govern ment. The Expedition will consist, besides yourself, of Mr. Vahl, as Naturalist, and Mr. Matthiesen, Superintendent of the Colony of Frederick's-hope, in Greenland. Copies of the Instructions given to these gentlemen, are herewith furnished you, for your information. You are, further, authorized to take with you a Danish sailor, to serve as cook. The choice of the individual is left wholly to yourself: we would, however, recommend you to select for this office, some person already familiar with the navigation of the Greenland seas. The rest of the persons to be attached to the Expedition will be native Greenlanders, of whom you will engage a sufficient number, men and women, to man two women's-boats, and two kajaks, these being the sort of vessel in which we deem it most advisable for you to perform your voyage. You will, in company with Mr. Vahl, and the sailor abovementioned, take a passage in the vessel destined to sail, about the middle of March, for the Colony of Juliana's-hope. Arrangements to that effect have been concluded with the Greenland Board of Trade, and preparations will be made for reception in it of whatever articles it may be necessary for you to take with you for the purposes of the Expedition, and concerning which you will apply— with regard to provisions, stores, and other like necessaries, to the undersigned the Councillor of Justice Gede;—and as far as regards the Instruments you may require, to the undersigned Captain Zahrtmann. On your arrival at Juliana's-hope, you will communicate with Mr. Matthiesen, and we judge it most expedient for you thereupon to set about exploring the coasts in the immediate vicinity of the Colony, particularly in the direction of North, by which means you will the sooner meet with him. On his reaching Juliana'shope you will, in conjunction with him, determine on the measures to be taken with respect to the building of your women's-boats, the engaging of crews for them, and whatever else may be necessary towards the furtherance of your Expedition. You will perceive from the copy furnished you of the Instructions given Mr. Matthiesen, that we have thought it most conducive to the interests of the Expedition to intrust to him especially the charge of these preparatory measures, as being the individual most likely to be possessed of the requisite local knowledge. Though we, however, thus exempt you from this duty, we still leave it to your discretion, as commanding the Expedition, to determine whether, or not, it may be expedient for you to take steps towards these preparations previously to his arrival, We presume that, on being joined by Mr. Matthiesen, you will be able to determine at what time your preparations at Juliana'shope will be completed, and this ascertained, you will decide upon the place which you may think best adapted for you to winter at. We are of opinion, that Nennortalik or Friederichsthal are best suited to this purpose, as you will there be able to take advantage of the first opportunity that may offer in the Spring of 1829, for setting out upon your Expedition. As, however, the preparations above referred to, and various other circumstances, may create obstacles that we are here unable to foresee, we leave all this to your discretion, advising only that you employ the year 1828 in such a |