KAKSIMIUT. 245 



but we Lad entered upon our homeward path, and on the 

 whole, we were all heartily glad to be on the road home. 

 Outside in the street, running along the harbour, the 

 gentlemen of the colony wished us a prosperous voyage. 

 We cruised nearly the whole afternoon, in a complete 

 calm, between Akkia and the continent, having the 

 ship in tow. At last, at ten p.m., the outer harbour 

 of Julianeshaab, on the island of Pardleet, about one 

 German mile distant, was reached, where, in expecta- 

 tion of more favourable weather, we dropped anchor 

 once more. 



We had really made a great mistake in becoming so 

 soon tired of Julianeshaab ; for, in the main, there was 

 life about us there, and that was at least a change. What 

 weariness really is we had now to learn. Pardleet is a 

 completely desert island. The low rocky masses are 

 clothed with scanty vegetation. Whortleberries, the 

 marsh lystus, stunted willows, and birch brushwood are 

 not wantino- here either: but a never-ending loneliness 

 rests upon the island, which is poor in animal life, and 

 but seldom visited by birds. In former times, a Green- 

 land family lived here ; the ruins of their dwelling are 

 still visible. The small celandine and grasses thrive 

 upon this spot luxuriantly, and this green spot seemed 

 like an oasis in the desert. 1 and our men roamed over 

 the whole island. For want of other amusement, they 

 collected mussels,^ which exist here in clusters in the 

 shallows in shore. They had all learned from the natives 

 to eat them rav\r. We took a number of these mussels 

 on board, and when pickled I myself found them very 



^ Mijtilns edvUs, L. The Greenland name for this uioUusk is 

 Nihick. 



