JOUKNEY ALONG THE COAST OF GREENLAND. 181 



we greatly needed was a wasliing-day. As regards cover- 

 ing for the feet, we were badly off. But that want was 

 speedily remedied. The store of shoes was brought out, 

 and soon our pairs of feet were decked with rough 

 Kamiken (Esquimaux boots made of seal leather). 



In a small room, near the church, in the school, we 

 made our resting-place on the school forms, all packed 

 close together. The church is really nothing but a 

 bed-room ; a black covered table marks the spot from 

 whence the preacher speaks. Near the table is an 

 harmonium. The men remained in the boats under the 

 sail-roofing. 



In the Greenland village of Friedrichsthal no one was 

 at home ; men, women, and children were out on the 

 island on the seal-hunt, or at the Fjord for the herring- 

 fishing ; only the female portion of the missionaries* 

 household was there. They had received us on the cliff 

 with the others. The first impression made upon us by 

 the natives was not unfavourable. Certainly these ex- 

 pressionless and plain physiognomies, with their broad 

 flat faces, small, black, and somewhat crooked eyes, little 

 stunted noses, and great swelling mouths, all set in black 

 strips of hair, were not inviting ; but the striking harm- 

 lessness and good nature of these half- wild people soon 

 earned our fullest favour. As soon as they saw that we 

 were friendly people, indeed the countrymen of their 

 beloved missionaries, they were confiding towards us. 

 The man who met us had brought the post ; he was the 

 overseer of a Greenland village, Igalorsoeitsiak, near Cape 

 Farewell, and was named Jonathan. The missionaries 

 praised him as a capital seal-hunter and an excellent 

 man ; he was very open-hearted and a great drinker. 



