PREFACE.

THE death of MR. MACDOUGALL, the Translator of the following pages, who was unfortunately drowned at Largs, in Scotland, in October, 1835, having unavoidably delayed the publication of this work, advantage has been taken of the delay, to profit by the kind offer of CAPTAIN JAMES CLARKE ROSS, Royal Navy, to add a few notes to the work; which, from his experience on the Coast of Greenland, and in the Arctic Seas, cannot fail to enhance its value.

It has been considered better to allow the homely style in these pages, probably attendant upon an almost literal translation of the Danish, to remain unchanged, rather than risk the chance of error, by substituting the more usual forms of expression.

THE EDITOR.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

Page

Object of the expedition-First colonization of Greenland, by Erik Raude-

Contradictory 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-Arch-

bishop Walckendorff proposes an expedition for the rediscovery of the

lost colonies-Prevented by his exile and death-Expeditions des-

patched without success by Christian III. and Frederick III.-Expe-

dition 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-Expedi-

tion 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 Sunken-

land-van-Buss, an imaginary danger-Easterly current in the latitude

of 57-58-The "Great Ice;" unusual appearance of the sea-

Temperature of the sea- Current along the shores of Greenland-

Reach 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; sup-

posed 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's-

hope-Arrival at Lichtenau - Nennortalik; Friederichsthal - Hot-

springs at Ounartok-Remarkable cavern at Akkia-Akkia supposed to

be the "Langey" of the ancients-Exploration of the ruin called Ka-

kortok church-Its comparatively perfect condition-Traditions of the

natives-Survey of the district of Juliana's-hope-Reindeer hunting-

Greenland earth-huts-Excursion to the eastward-Nick-names-Re-

turn 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 de-
parture-Leave Nennortalik-Detention at Nukalik; game caught-
Position of Cape Farewell-Itiblirsoak-Detention at Kikkertak—
Activity of Ernenek-Departure from Kikkertak-Island of Alluk;

25-54

annual fair held there-Detention at Nenneetsuk; notions of a future
state-Optical delusion-Tents of the natives-Manners and appear-
ance of the East Greenlanders-Magnetic influence of the rocks at Ser-
ketnoua-A bear killed by one of the kajakkers-Taterat; the inhabitants
little resembling the Esquimaux-A ship's cannon discovered at
Koremiut-Angekkoks, or sorcerers-Curiosity respecting the compass
-Want of provisions-The author proceeds alone-Dangerous passage
-Signs of mourning-Singular effects of refraction-Snow-blindness-
A Greenland entertainment- Cascades near Asioukasik-Fondness for
snuff-Account of the Erkilliks; Mr. Wormskiold's conjectures con-
cerning them-Great thickness of the ice off Cape Mösting-Icebergs
-Curiosity of the natives of Aluik-Mode of preparing coffee-Refusal
to taste brandy-Have no knowledge of any Icelandic ruins-Effects
of the fog, near Skram's Islands-Hvid Sadlen, and Cape King Fre-
derick III.-Gunbiörn's Skerries-Distance between Iceland and the
Bygd-Variation of the compass at Sneedorff's Island-Dannebrog's
Island, northern limit of the expedition- Dangerous passage to Aluik
Sound of Ekallumiut — Luxuriant vegetation-The tambourine-

dance-Preparations for winter quarters

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—

Climate of the East coast-Tides; Currents; Icebergs--Population

of the East coast-Much reduced by famine-The inhabitants bear

little resemblance to the Esquimaux-Better clothed than the West

Greenlanders-Manners and customs; affection for their children; edu-

cation-Filthiness of their dwellings-Civility and hospitality-Contempt

of servitude-Prescriptive usages-Rules of succession-Murder, how

avenged-Morality and honesty; no terms of abuse in their language-

No religious worship-An incantation-Superstitions regarding eclipses,

&c.- Diseases-Treatment of a wounded man- -Voluntary death-

Superstitious fear of the dead-Language.

FRUITLESS ATTEMPT TO PENETRATE FURTHER NORTH-

RETURN.

110-130

Departure from Nukarbik-Greenland arithmetic-Detention at the "Isle

of Twins "-Death of two children-Robbery at Nukarbik-Perilous

situation off Colberger Heide-Want of provisions-Siorakitsok carries

off one of the boat-women-Removal of the Eastlanders to Friederichs-

thal-Quarrel with Ernenek-Humanity of an old angekkok-Suffer-

ings from sickness and famine-Reach Friederichsthal-Survey of the

district of Juliana's-hope-Return to Copenhagen.

APPENDIX.

130-152

I. On the Situation of the East and West Bygds; with Remarks on Eggers'

and Wormskiold's Treatises on that subject

155

II. Botany and Zoology

III.-Temperature of the Sea.

181

V.-Table of Latitudes and Longitudes

Details of Experiments on the Intensity of the Magnetic Force