A ROYAL VISIT 5 



In 1814, on the separation of Denmark from 

 Norway, the greater part of Greenland became a 

 Danish colony; and now the whole belongs to 

 Denmark. For the first time in its history Green- 

 land was visited in July of last year by the King 

 and Queen of Denmark on the occasion of the 

 celebration of the bicentenary of the landing of 

 Hans Egede and the re-colonisation of the country. 

 The visitors received an enthusiastic welcome from 

 the delighted Greenlanders. On the rare occasions 

 when a ship from Denmark visits a Settlement the 

 natives crowd about the hills overlooking the sea 

 and by their shouts announce the important event. 

 The arrival of His Majesty's ship was naturally 

 the cause of a very special demonstration and of 

 unusual excitement. On the way to Greenland the 

 royal party called at Iceland : this led to some con- 

 fusion between the two countries in reports of the 

 tour. An English illustrated paper published a 

 photograph purporting to represent a scene in 

 Greenland; the Queen is seated in 'an island cart' 

 and the King is mounted on a 'sturdy Greenland 

 pony.' Greenland possesses neither carts nor ponies. 



In order to provide for the large number of 

 people, several of whom were Delegates of Societies 

 and Institutions invited to take part in the fes- 

 tivities, the Danish Government chartered a special 

 vessel, the S.S. 'Bele,' a Swedish ship of about 

 1600 tons, to supplement the usual restricted 

 service from Copenhagen. It was my good fortune, 

 in company with my companion and Research 



