LIFE IN GREENLAND. 433 



ment in sledges drawn by dogs. During the summer, under the four 

 montlis of continual daylight, the snow soon melts over the lower 

 lands, and the heat is often extreme. Mosquitoes are troublesome, 

 and, there being no shelter from the rays of the sun reflected, from the 

 snow, ice, and bare rocks, traveling is frequently attended with great 

 discomfort. The day may be bright and sunny in the morning, and in 

 the evening snow, sleet, and all the concomitants of spring or winter. 

 During the short summer sieason vegetation springs up apace and soon 

 comes to maturity. In September the weather is uncertain and the 

 nights are very dark and cold. 



The trade of Danish Greenland is a strict crown monopoly, and is 

 administered by government officials solely for the benefit of the 

 natives. The princij^le adopted is to buy the natives' blubber, skins, 

 ivory, etc., at a low price and to sell to them articles of European 

 manufacture which are necessary to their comfort at an equally low 

 figure ; coSee^ and other luxuries are sold at a good, profit. The sur- 

 plus is credited to each district, and expended for the public good, 

 by the little local parliaments (Partisoks) of the districts, the mem- 

 bers of which (partis^ts) are elected by universal suffrage. The set- 

 tlements are known as colonies, and each is presided over by a " colo- 

 nibestyrer " {best man in the colony). The other notables of the 

 colony are the colonibestyrer's assistant, the cooper, the carpenter, 

 and, if the settlement is large, the Lutheran parson, and the school- 

 master the latter generally an educated native. The most exciting 

 event in the settlements is the arrival of the annual ship from Co- 

 penhagen. Pianos are not unknown in the houses of the Danish 

 officials, and the Tauchnitz edition of the best English authors is to 

 be found in the " governor's " house. 



The Danish Government treat the natives with the most paternal 

 care. No spirits are allowed to be sold to them, schools are pro- 

 vided, and altogether the rule of the little northern kingdom is pro- 

 ductive of very good results. Theft is practically unknown in Danish 

 Greenland. 



The vegetation around Disco Bay is, during the brief summer, rather 

 luxuriant ; the rocks are bright with mosses, and gayly-colored flowers 

 peep out from the crannies. In the Upernivik district the birch is 

 said to grow high enough in localities to cover the reindeer. Such 

 giant shrubs are looked upon with pride by the natives. They take 

 visitors to see them, and point to these extraordinary specimens of 

 vegetation with an air as of " See this and die ! " 



Hunting and fishing form the sole occupation of those natives who 

 are not in the government service. The white bear is almost extinct 

 in this region ; farther north they are more numerous. The arctic 

 fox is common. The native dog is threatened with extermination by 

 a peculiar disease which first appeared in Greenland a few years ago. 

 The cat has become domesticated. The mouse and rat are regularly 



VOL. Till. 28 



