UPERNAVIK. 365 



Danish tons of oil and blubber stored, from the produce 

 of the summer fishery. There was likewise visible evi- 

 dence in every direction of an abundance of venison, 

 water-fowl, and eggs, as well as seals. The houses 

 were built of wood, very small, and had a singularly 

 amphibious look about them, from being covered with 

 tar from top to bottom, - - appearing, for all the world, 

 like so many upturned herring-boats, ready, on any 

 emergency, to take to the water. 



"A party of the Esquimaux, attached to the settle- 

 ment, had come in with the produce of some hunting 

 excursion in which they had been engaged ; and I was 

 much struck with their intelligence, and their well-clad, 

 comfortable, and healthy appearance. This, I learned, 

 was in a great measure due to the benevolent interest 

 of the Danish government in their behalf. There is not 

 a station, I was given to understand, along the whole 

 cuast of Greenland, which has not its missionary and 

 its schoolmaster for the instruction of the natives ; and, 

 judging from what we saw and learned at Upernavik, 

 the Danish exchequer is not without material and sub- 

 stantial proofs of the gratitude of the poor ' Innuit.' 

 Thus instructed, cared for, and their energies disciplined 

 and directed, the Esquimaux of Greenland give employ- 

 ment to six ships -annually, in carrying the produce of 

 their hunts and fisheries to Denmark/ 5 



At this place six large Esquimaux dogs, for dragging 

 sledges, were purchased. A few pairs of seal-skin 

 boots, shoes, and trousers, a la Esquimaux, were also 

 procured, and the Prince Albert proceeded on her 

 voyage. The much-dreaded "middle ice " was reached 

 soon after leaving, and four days were spent in passing 

 through it to the western side of the bay, during which 

 time the men were constantly employed in sailing, 

 boring, pushing, thumping, and warping not unfre- 



