LICHTENAU. 215 



prepare their meals by it) is, of course, to be found in 

 every house, and is (so to speak) the symbol of Greenland 

 family-life, for all gather round it. Weights for anghng 

 are also cut out of " soft-stone," and it is interesting 

 to know that the Northmen made similar use of this 

 material. The stone, however, is not common; some- 

 what plentiful in North Greenland, it is seldom met 

 with in the southern districts, and is often brought from 

 the north. East Greenland is not quite wanting in it, as 

 the name of an island under the Kolbergerheide Glacier 

 proves ; it is called Okusiksak, which in the Greenland 

 tongue means " soft-stone." 



This Fjord, not so deep as its neighbours, is surrounded 

 by a beautiful panorama. At its end opens a ravine which 

 allows a wide pros23ect. By keeping a straight course 

 along this narrow valley one could reach Friedrichsthal, 

 but from the necessity of climbing over numerous fallen 

 rocks and other difficulties, the way by water is preferred. 



Scarcely had our boat entered the Fjord than the 

 apparently desert shore became alive. Inhabitants of 

 Lichtenau and Igdlopait were here, stationed on the 

 herring fishery ; and as just at that time there were 

 none to catch, the whole community were idling in their 

 accustomed manner. Our arrival brought them to their 

 feet, and soon they were at the shore calling and scream- 

 ing against one another, and first one and then another 

 wanting to show us a good landing-place. It was with 

 much trouble that we could keep them from the boat, as 

 they wished to drag it, with us in it, along the stony 

 rugged strand. Of course all of them followed us on 

 our way to the "soft-stone" rock, except a few old 

 crones, who, being no longer able to walk over the 



