I 



DESCRIPTION' OF GREENLAND, 239 



heap of bows, quivers, and arroAVs. The savages, discon- 

 solate for tlieir loss, conjured the Danes Avith gesticulations 

 of prayer and submission to give them back Avhat they had 

 taken. They gave them to understand by gestures that they 

 only lived by hunting, that these arms were their means of 

 subsistence, and that they would give up their clothes to 

 have them back. The Danes, moved with compassion, re- 

 turned them, and the savages fell on their knees to thank 

 them for so much condescension. The courtesy of the Danes 

 towards the savages did not stop there. They displayed 

 their merchandise and made them presents of their trifles, 

 Avhich the savages admired and received Avith joy ; and in 

 exchange gave to the Danes many kinds of birds and fat of 

 different fish. One of them, Avho had cast his eyes on a 

 looking-glass and Avho was admiring himself in it, was so 

 astonished to see himself that he took it, put it in his bosom, 

 and ran aAvay. But the Danes only laughed, and not less 

 AA'hen all the savages ran to embrace one of their companions, 

 and caressed him as if they had knoAvn him for a long time, 

 because he had black hair, and Avas flat-nosed and taAvney, 

 in a Avord, because he resembled them. 



Captain iSIunck left this island the day after, which Avas 

 the nineteenth of July, and having set sail to continue his 

 route, was obliged to put back on account of the ice and to 

 retire to this same j^ort again, AAdiere, notwithstanding all the 

 trouble he took, he could see no more islanders. The Danes 

 found nets spread along the shore, to Avhich they fastened 

 knives, looking-glasses, and other rough trinkets, to invite 

 them to return ; but not one came again, either because they 

 were afraid of the Danes, or because they had been ex- 

 pressly forbidden by some sort of judge or governor to have 

 any more trading Avith them. Captain Munck, not being- 

 able to find any men, found and took a great number of 

 reindeer in this island, which he called Reinsundt, that is to 

 say, the gnlf of reindeer ; and he called the port Avherc he 



