Penfykania, Philadelphia. 23 1 



more exceffive, fince the fun fhines therefor fuch 

 a long fpace of time, without ever fetting. The 

 fame account, with fimilar confequences drawn 

 from thence, Mr. Franklin had heard of the fhip- 

 captains in Bofton, who had failed to the moft 

 northern parts of this hemifphere. But ftill more 

 aftoniftiing is the account he got from Captain 

 Henry Atkins, who ftill lives ^ Bof.cn. Tie had for 

 fome time been upon the fiihery along the coafts 

 of New England. But not catching as much as 

 he wifhed, he failed north, as far as Greenland. At 

 laft he went fo far, that he difcovered people, 

 who had never feen Europeans before (and what 

 is more aftonifhing) who had no idea of the ufe 

 of fire, which they had never employed ; and if 

 they had known it, they could have made no ufe 

 of their knowledge, as there were no trees in 

 the country. But they eat the birds and fifli 

 which they caught quite raw. Captain Afkins 

 got fome very fcarce fkins in exchange for fome 

 trifles. 



IT is already known from feveral accounts of 

 voyages, that to the northward neither trees nor 

 bufhes, nor any ligneous plants, are to be met 

 with, fit for burning. But is it not probable 

 that the inhabitants of fo defoiate a country, like 

 other northern nations which we know, burn 

 the train oil of fifhes, and the fat of animals in 

 lamps, in order to boil their meat, to warm their 

 fubterraneous caves in winter, and to light them 

 in the darkeft feafon of the year ? elfe their dark- 

 nefs would be infuppcrtable. 



Nov. iith. JN feveral writings we read of a 

 large animal, which is to be met with in New 



Enland, 



