266 IMPORTANCE OF DISKO 



in those cases a very little care would afford ample security. 

 On the southern extremity, from Fortune Bay to Lievely, 

 there are fine situations for harbours ; but being at present 

 in a state of nature, they present little to attract the notice 

 of a cursory visitor. Towards the eastward, the land 

 declines from the westward and northward until at Flat- 

 foot Shore it imperceptibly becomes strand. On the north- 

 eastern side, the shore is skirted with very lofty peaks, 

 some of which are said to stretch their shadow across the 

 Way gat Sound, which is in one place twenty-five miles 

 over. Of that circumstance, however, I am not certain ; 

 but one of those peaks is visible above the greater part of 

 the western side of Disko. 



To the southward of Disko lies South-east Bay ; within 

 which are seen some groupes of low islands. Among 

 these the Avestern islands are situate at the south-western 

 extremity, and are inhabited very numerously by Uskees. 

 The whale islands are also much inhabited by the same 

 people ; and, at the latter place, the Danish ofhcer who 

 superintends the colony is usually resident, but oc- 

 casionally removes to Lievely. The Dog Islands, Green 

 Islands, and all the other islands sprinkled along the coast 

 around South-east Bay, are peopled with Uskees, and 

 are their favourite residence. 



It is not usual to find South-east Bay covered with the 

 ice after the end of June ; but it frequently is closed until 



