20G THE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



situation on an island. The inhabitants are dirty and 

 filthy to a degree. The men's skin-clothes were torn, 

 and the women were going about with wild unkempt hair. 



The mission-house, neat and attractive, with a grey 

 slate roof, seemed to invite us hospitably. A smooth road 

 led from the village to the dwelling of the missionary, 

 Mr. Hilbig. He was not at home, but had gone with 

 his colleague from Lichtenau to the Fjord, to collect wood 

 for the winter. His wife, a friendly countrywoman, wel- 

 comed us heartily. Not less amiable was Mrs. Warmow 

 from Lichtenau, who happened to be on a visit to her. In 

 order to provide for our unexpected quartering, Mrs. 

 Warmow decided to return at once with us. We were 

 really sorry to leave Mrs. Hilbig alone in Igdlopait. 

 Wliat a task, what deprivations does the wife of a Green- 

 land missionary take upon herself one may imagine, by 

 picturing the loneliness which surrounds a missionary's 

 family on a barren island in the Arctic Sea, bare of trees 

 and shrubs, among a rough people but little susceptible 

 of civilization, natives whose culture and salvation they 

 unceasingly sacrifice themselves to promote. A few 

 goats and hens form her only companionship. Even the 

 blossom and fruit of family life the poor settlers dare 

 only half enjoy, for custom and order demand that, when 

 the missionaries' children are about seven years old, they 

 shall be sent to Europe to be brought up in a school 

 of the fraternity. They do not see their parents again 

 for many years, when they have become comparative 

 strangers to them. 



We would not stay longer than was necessary ; and as 

 Mrs. Warmow could not be dissuaded from accompany- 

 ing us, we started in the boats at four in the afternoon. 



