160 GREENLAND. 



winter's hunt were deposited, consisting of seal and rein- 

 deer skins, blubber, &c., to the value of about 15,000 

 dollars. Then there is the import storehouse, where a 

 miscellaneous assortment of articles biscuit, blankets, 

 and bullet-moulds ; stockings, shot, sugar, and stew- 

 pans ; rice, rifles, and ropes, &c. were to be found in 

 incongruous proximity. Currency consists of paper 

 notes, printed in Copenhagen, which become valuable on 

 their arrival in Greenland, little silver money changing 

 hands. 



After seeing the different piles of goods stowed away 

 in these buildings, we turned our attention to the exterior 

 of the dwellings of the Eskimo. Round one of them 

 were grouped a number of natives, talking in a slow, 

 hesitating way ; one of them seemed from his looks to be 

 rather irate, but the easy manner in which he allowed 

 his words to gurgle out of his throat would not have led 

 any one to suppose that he was otherwise than at peace 

 with all mankind. 



The interesting operation of cutting up a seal, which 

 had just been brought in, was going on inside one of the 

 huts ; the dainty bits, such as the liver, &c., were taken 

 possession of by the favoured ones of the household, to 

 be cooked over the stone blubber-lamp. A couple of old 

 dames were entertaining each other over a cup of coffee, 

 which luxurious beverage was the first-fruits of the seal- 

 skin just deposited in the store. 



Heartily tired after my day's ramble, I joyfully tamed 

 in for the night. 



