12 August Krogh and Млшк Krogh. 



Of birds they get a number, chiefly eiderducks and gulls and in 

 the season they sometimes eat enormous quantities of. eggs of these 

 birds. The eggs are eaten raw, and it does not matter at all if they 

 have been brooded for a considerable time; the birds are boiled, gene- 

 rally together with a little barley. 



The principal food fishes are: Salmon, Cod, Greenland Halibut 

 and Sea scorpion, but above all the Capelan (Mallotus arcticiis, Eskimo: 

 Angmagsset) a small fish belonging to the salmon family which visits 

 the shores in enormous numbers for a short time in July and which 

 is then taken by hand or by means of very simple catchers used from 

 the shore. Rather considerable quantities of these fishes are dried 

 on the cliffs without undergoing any preparation and are stored for 

 use in times of scarcity. 



Of stimulants the Eskimos get very little. They are extremely 

 fond of coffee the consumption of which has risen from 2,4 kg. pro 

 adult pro year in 1855 to over 4 kg. in 1900. Alcohol is much 

 appreciated by the men but thanks to the provisions of a paternal 

 and well intentioned government they are not allowed to obtain it 

 except on rare occasions and in very small quantities. 



In 1855 Rink made a statistical study of the food consumed during 

 a year by the Eskimos in the Southern Inspectorate in Greenland 

 comprising the coast from Gape Farewell to about 67° N. In this 

 district there are practically no domesticated animals to share the 

 food, while in the North, where dog sledges are extensively used, it 

 w^uld be impossible to say how much had been eaten by dogs and 

 how much by men. 



It is is obvious that the difficulties inseparable from such a re- 

 search must be very great and the accuracy cannot be considerable, but 

 it must be remembered on the other hand that Rink was an extremely 

 careful observer and had the best information obtainable at his disposal^. 



According to Rink there were in 1855 6100 Eskimos in the 

 Southern Inspectorate of which about 40 "/(, were below 15 years while 

 only about ?) ^/q were above 60 years. 48 "/o were males and 52 females. 

 The indigenous food available during the year, after deduction of 

 the quantities sold, amounted to 2.200000 kg. meat and fat, of which 

 1.750000 kg. were seal meat, further 2.000000 kg. fish, of which 1.250000 

 kg. capelan (Angmagsset), 200000 eggs and about 100000 kg. berries 

 {Vaccinium). The quantities of mussels, seaweeds and "kvan" (Ange- 

 lica) were uncontrollable. 



and concretions. These layers and also the raw liver of seals have been recognized 

 by the Eskimos as sure means against scorbut and their therepeutical value has 

 been fully confirmed by the medical officers in Greenland. 



1 The account given is taken from the Danish edition of Rink's book: Grøn- 

 land, Bd. II. Det sydhge Inspektorat, Kbhvn. 1857. Corresponding but not 

 so detailed data are given in: Rink: Danish Greenland. London 1877. 



