102 DANISH ESTABLISHMENTS. Chap. VII. 



whaler ' Tay,' from Scotland, we have received papers up to 

 17 th April. 



This morning we slowly steamed away from Upernivik, 

 threading our way betwixt islands and ice, for about 30 

 miles, and now await further ice movement before it will be 

 possible to proceed. These are called the Women Islands, 

 so named by the celebrated arctic explorer John Davis, who 

 visited them in Queen Elizabeth's reign ; he found here only 

 a few old women, their frightened lords and more active 

 juniors having effected their escape. 



Upon one of these islands a stone was picked up some 30 

 years ago, bearing a Runic inscription ; it was sent home to 

 Copenhagen as a most interesting relic of the early Scan- 

 dinavian voyagers ; but nothing was on it except the names 

 of those men " who cleared this place " (or formed a settle- 

 ment), and the date, 1135. In all probability their sojourn 

 was extremely short, perhaps only for a single summer. The 

 Esquimaux did not made their appearance for nearly two 

 centuries later. 



After Egede's settlement at Godhaab in 1721, the Danish 

 trading establishments gradually extended along the coast, 

 even to Upernivik ; but it appears to have been soon aban- 

 doned. During Napoleon's wars all the Danish posts were 

 withdrawn, as the British fleet effectually cut off communica- 

 tion with Europe; but after peace was restored in 1815, the 

 trading posts were again resorted to, and a new settlement 

 formed near the ruins of the old one at Upernivik ; it enjoys 

 pre-eminence as the most northern abode of civilized man. 



