36 UPERNAYIK. 



moored in the harbor, and we anchored close beside 

 her. This was the first vessel we had seen since leav- 

 ing the fishing-smacks off Cape Cod. She was taking 

 in oil and skins for Copenhagen, and her commander, 

 Mr. Bordolf, informed me that he expected to sail in a 

 few days, — a chance, at last, for letters to the anx- 

 ious ones at home. 



The people of the Colony were already much ex- 

 cited over the arrival of the " Danske skip," and two 

 vessels in the port at once was a sight which they had 

 not for a long time witnessed. The moss-covered hill 

 which slopes from the town to the beach was covered 

 with a motley 'group of men, women, and children, 

 presenting quite a picturesque appearance as we ap- 

 proached the anchorage. 



Mr. Hansen received me with true Scandinavian 

 heartiness ; and, escorting me to the government- 

 house, introduced me to the retiring Chief Trader, 

 Dr. Rudolph, a very gentlemanly representative of 

 the Danish Army, who was about returning home in 

 the Thialfe. Over a jug of home-brewed beer and a 

 Dutch pipe, we were soon discussing the prospect of 

 obtaining dogs and thfe state of the ice to the north- 

 ward. 



Upernavik differs but little in its general appear- 

 ance from Proven. There are a few more huts and a 

 few more inhabitants ; and, from being the residence 

 of the Chief Trader for the " Upernavik district," 

 which includes Proven and its dependencies, it has 

 attached to it something more of importance. Per- 

 haps this is, in a measure, due to a quaint little church 

 and a parsonage. To the parsonage I quickly found 

 my way, for I fancied that from behind the neat mus- 

 lin curtains of its odd little windows I detected a 



