THE COAST. 187 



This it did at six P.M., revealing a beautiful coast-line as 

 it lifted off the land, the landscape bounded by the far 

 inland white mountain-tops, clear cut against the deep 

 blue sky. Farther north, along the coast, we saw the 

 "blink* of the glacier, which there stretches along, or 

 rather forms the coast-line, for eight or ten miles, re- 

 lieving, with its gleaming whiteness, the sombre aspect of 

 the black and barren peaks of primary rock on either side. 



And now we saw a couple of kajaks coming off towards 

 the ship. These kajaks are from eighteen to twenty feet 

 long, tapering to a point at both ends like a weaver's 

 shuttle, some fifteen inches wide, and eight or nine deep, 

 flattish above and convex below. The frame is made of 

 laths of wood, and covered over with sealskin prepared 

 by the Eskimo, and sewed on whilst wet. A small hole 

 is left in the middle, surrounded by a ledge ; into this the 

 native "wriggles," sitting with his body at right angles to 

 his legs; then fastening his sealskin shirt, or "jumper," 

 he forms a continuous water-tight surface up to his throat. 



Seated thus, with his "payortit," or paddle, held by 

 the middle in his hands, by alternate strokes with its 

 right and left blades he propels the canoe at the rate of 

 six to eight miles per hour, passing through waves and 

 encountering seas which, in an ordinary boat, would b 

 neither safe nor pleasant. 



These natives brought us some eider-duck eggs, and 

 received biscuit in exchange. We then stood in toward 

 Frederikshaab, eight or nine bergs appearing in sight, but 

 nope very close to us. 



