152 LECTURE ON ARCTIC EXPLORATIONS. 



inspectorates, each of Avhicli is presided over by a viceroy or royal 

 inspector. Tiiese principal districts are known as North and South 

 Greenhmd, the seat of government of the former being Godhavn, 

 situated on the southern extremity of Disko island; and of the latter 

 at Godhaab. Each of the inspectorates is subdivided into smaller 

 districts, which are under the immediate control of chief traders or 

 governors, who are directly responsible to the royal inspector. The 

 most northern district is that of Upernavik, the seat of government 

 of which is at the settlement or colony of that name, situated on a 

 small island, in latitude 72° 40'. The settlements of Proven, Tessuis- 

 sak, and many others of a similar character, are comprised within 

 that district, and are subordinate to the central authority at Uperna- 

 vik. The outposts comprise generally only a trader's house and a 

 few native tents. Upernavik has besides the government house, a 

 missionary house, a church, and school-house, two storehouses, a 

 shop, two blubber-houses, and about a dozen Esquimaux habitations. 



The Greenland colonies are for the most part profitable to the 

 Danish government; and they maintain the government employes and 

 natives in comfort and abundance. The people live exclusively by 

 hunting and fishing; and from the district of Upernavik alone, two 

 vessels, of three hundred tons each, are annually freighted with the 

 products of their industry and hardy skill, consisting of whale, seal, 

 and shark oil; seal, fox, reindeer, and bear skins; eiderdown, walrus, 

 and narwhal ivory; codfish, and other articles of less value. 



My purpose in halting at the several stations which I have men- 

 tioned was to obtain furs and' dogs for my proposed sledge travelling 

 at the north. Having, through the kindness of the Danish officials, 

 obtained the needed supplies, as also three Esquimaux hunters and an 

 interpreter, we set out from Tessuissak on the 22d of August for the 

 field of our future explorations. Our route lay thence northward 

 through Melville bay, the usual track of the whalers. That bay was 

 entered on the morning of the 23d of August, during a thick snow 

 storm, with a heavy gale and a high sea following us; and without 

 having encountered any ice we reached Cape York in fifty-five hours. 

 This passage of the bay was remarkable. 



Standing close in under Cape York, I kept a careful watch from 

 the masthead for Esquimaux, and I soon had the gratification to see 

 a group of them running down toward the beach, making signs to 

 attract attention. The schooner being hove to, 1 went on shore in a 

 whaleboat, and was met at the beach by an Esquimaux, whom I 

 quickly recognized to be Hans, Dr. Kane's j'oung hunter. Upon his 

 expressing a desire to accompany me, I took him, together with his 

 wife and child, on board, and again stood northward. 



Beyond the parallel of the Carey islands, near which the whalers 

 annually pass, and thence to Smith strait, our track was the same as 

 that of Dr. Kane. The distance from the northern limit of the whale 

 fishery to Smith strait, you will perceive, is not great, and with a fair 

 wind we ran it in a few hours. The chief interest of our voyage 

 commences, therefore, on the 26th of August, on which day we were 

 a little to the northward of the position of Baffin in 1616, and Ross 



