51 
teries. The individuals, who escaped this destruction, have mixed 
with the natives. I could easily recognize and distinguish the Eu- 
ropean (Caucasian) countenances from the Mongolic, although 
there have elapsed more than three centuries since their extermi- 
nation. This difference of countenance is not visible amongst the 
natives on the western coast, except in those parts of the Danish set- 
tlements where Europeans intermarry, or where the natives come in 
connexion with European vessels for the purpose of trade or whale 
fishery. It appears further, from different Scandinavian or Ice- 
landic words: adopted in the language of the Greenlanders, words 
used in domestic life, that there existed a friendly intercourse between 
both nations. Such are Gwanneck, (Angelica Archangelica,) the 
Gwanne of the Icelanders and Norwegians, a favourite vegetable, 
eaten raw and boiled by both nations. Such is Nisa and Nisarnak, 
two species of dolphins, called Nisen by the Scandinavians. Such 
is Kona, Wife, Kona of the Norwegians, and different other words. 
But the most striking appeared to me to be the words Tornak and 
Tornarsuk. Thornak or Torngak signifies in their language soul, 
and spirit, or demon; and Thornarsuk or Torngarsuk, a being si- 
milar to a spirit. A spirit-like being, called by the Greenlanders 
Thornarsuk, is the only supreme being acknowledged by them, 
without being worshipped. Now it is evident to me, that the word 
Thornarsuk is to be derived from Thor, the god of Thunder of the 
northern nations, to which they have added their suffix ak and 
arsuk. ‘They attribute to this being the same propensities attri- 
buted to it by the old Scandinavians, namely, to excite thunder, 
to effect other phenomena in nature, and to reside in clifts of rocks. 
I conclude from this, that the Greenlanders were in intimate con- 
nection with the old Icelanders, that they adopted some of their 
religious principles, prior to the introduction of Christianity ; and 
