278 IMPORTANCE OF DISKO 



urged against the Baltic and Archangel trade. Such ob- 

 jections are, therefore, weak and unavailing to such as 

 seriously consider the importance of the subject. The 

 comfort of the colony in winter can be rendered as com- 

 plete in Disko as it is in many northern parts of the Rus- 

 sian empire, where the use of stoves counteracts the effects 

 of cold as great, I am confident, as will be ever experienced 

 at Disko. The late inventions of the uses of steam in 

 heating apartments may be applied to the same purpose 

 in Disko as elsewhere ; so that a Greenland habitation 

 may hereafter be found comfortable even to a luxurious 

 degree. 



In the event of the north-west passage being determined, 

 vessels aided by easterly and northerly winds in the be- 

 ginning of the season may run across westward, probably 

 before the heavy ice comes down, and in their return east- 

 ward, the westerly and northerly winds, which prevail 

 much on the American side in the latter season, together 

 with the current, which is always in a southerly direction, 

 will enable them to effect their passage across the arctic 

 sea. In both those instances Disko will present a favour- 

 able resting place, either to remain at during winter, or 

 to leave such goods as may be thought necessary for the 

 colony, or for the purpose of procuring a supply of water, 

 which is constantly flowing from the summits of Disko 

 through some of the numerous channels in its rocky sides. 



8 



