161 



GEOGRAPHICAT. cdEIiECTIONS. 



Captain Graah's Expedition to the East Coast of Greenland, -^ tn'dutikst 

 Number, (p. 99. ) we gave a general notice of the result of Captain Graah's 

 expedition in search of the colony of Icelanders, supposed to have been 

 established, at an early period, on the east coast of Greenland. We are 

 now able to give some additional information, fiom Captain Graah's Journal, 

 respecting the inhabitants met with during his perilous undertaking. 



The principal object of this expedition was accomplished in 1829 ; for, 

 having passed the latitude attributed to the ancient Icelandic colony, without 

 having found the smallest trace, or the most insignificant ruin, even in 

 places which must necessarily have been inhabited, had the country ever 

 been occupied by a domiciliated people, and without having found among 

 the natives either traditions or traces of the rebgion, language, or manners 

 of the ancient Christians, it appears evident to M. Graah, that the ancient 

 colony was not situated to the east of Statenhuk, but in the country south- 

 west of Greenland, which at present constitutes the establishment of 

 Julianashaab — an opinion advanced forty years ago, by M. Eggers, in a 

 work crowned by the Royal Academy of Sciences of Copenhagen. 



The only thing which can tend to confirm the ancient opinion as to the 

 situation of this colony, is the physical character of the men met with 

 by M. Graah, this race appearing to have very little analogy with the 

 Esquimaux j but, on the contrary, approaching much to the Scandinavians, 

 They have neither the flat head, nor the small and broad body, nor the 

 flabbiness of the Esquimaux ; but they are, for the most part, above the 

 middle size. The form of the head, and contour of the figure, are similar 

 to those of Europeans ; the body, rather thin than fat, is sinewy and well 

 formed, without being weak ; they are also more active and robust than the 

 natives of the west coast. The colour of the skin, in the women and 

 children, is as fair as in Europeans ; and they have frequently brown hair, 

 which is never found in the other Greenlanders. Some of the men allow 

 the mustaches to gi'ow, others tattoo their arms ; and all the women tattoo 

 their own arms, hands, and chin. As they are exposed to the greatest 

 misery, and very frequently to famine, they seldom live beyond fifty years : 

 they state that the population is decreasing ; and, between the latitudes of 

 60° and 65°, M. Graah found not more than about five or six hundred 

 inhabitants. The population appeared less considerable on the southern 

 part of the coast, as many of the inhabitants had gone to establish themselves 

 at Frederickshaal, a new Moravian mission near Cape Statenhuk. These 

 missionaries collect the natives about them, which undoubtedly facilitates 

 their instruction and conversion ; but, on the other hand, during years of 

 scarcity, they ai-e much exposed to famine, which then causes most frightful 

 ravages. In the Danish missions and establishments, they leave the natives 

 at liberty to pursue their erratic mode of life, without losing sight of the 

 object of the mission. 



M. Graah only expresses himself superficially as to their religious 

 opinions ; indeed a more perfect acquaintance with their language would be 

 necessary to enable him to speak positively ; it however appears, that, like 

 the other Greenlanders, they adore two beings, a good and a bad genius : 

 they have, like them also, sorcerers, (angekoks,) but who appear to exercise 

 less influence over them ; and what they do exercise will probably diminish 

 still more, as M. Graah saw the children amusing themselves with mocking 

 at them. The moral character of this people is good ; they do not seem to 

 know vice ; and, in their domestic relations, the gentleness of the men, the 

 submission of the women, and the obedience of the children, as well as their 



VOL. Ill, X 



