226 DESCRIPTION OF GREENLAND. 



eyes to heaven and worsliip the rising sun. One died from 

 illness at Kolding, in Jutland, from having fished for pearls 

 in winter. You will find, sir, that the mussels of Denmark 

 are full of pearl-seeds and imperfect pearls, and those 

 who cat them hardly find anything else than this kind of 

 gravel under their teeth. A great number of these mussels 

 are caught in the river of Kolding. Some of them have fine 

 pearls, a great many very small ones, and others rather large 

 and round. This Greenlander had told them that they fish 

 pearls in his country, and that they were clever in this fish- 

 ing. The governor of Kolding took him to his government, 

 and gave him wherewith to practise in the river where the 

 pearls are. The savage succeeded marvellously, for he went 

 under the water like a fish, and never came up without 

 mussels containing very fine pearls. The governor thought 

 that if this continued, he should soon have to weigh the 

 pearls by bushels. But his avidity put an end to his hopes ; 

 for winter came suddenly upon him, and not having patience 

 to wait till the summer to continue his fishing, he sent this 

 poor savage under the water like a dog, and made him go so 

 often in among the ice that he died in consequence. His 

 companion could not be consoled for his loss, and found 

 means, on one of the early days of spring, to get possession 

 of one of the little boats. He embarked secretly, and passed 

 the Sound before they were aware of his flight. He was 

 speedily pursued, but as he had got the start, they only over- 

 took him at thirty or forty leagues' distance out at sea. They 

 made him understand by signs that he would never have 

 known where to find (xreenland, and that undoubtedly the 

 waves would have swallowed him up. He answered by 

 signs, that he should have followed the coast of Norway to 

 a certain point, whence he would have crossed, and have 

 been guided by the stars to his country. On his return to 

 Copenhagen he fell ill and died. 



This was the end of all these unhappy Greenlanders : 



