THE WHITE WORLD 



ments for our accommodation, which proved to be very 

 agreeable to me. We had expected to have rooms at the 

 home of the Inspector, Herr Anderson, but his family were 

 in Denmark, so that he could not receive us, but he placed 

 a small hut, more pretentious than the others, at our dis- 

 posal. It had formerly belonged to the wife of a Danish 

 governor and was perfectly neat. I waited with impatience 

 while our provisions were placed in the boat that was to 

 carry us ashore, and at last all was ready, and we rapidly 

 approached the landing. 



After a sight of Baffin's Land, Godhaven seemed a para- 

 dise with its fifteen or sixteen comfortable frame huts, 

 covered with turf, which was sprinkled with tiny white 

 flowers. At the water's edge, a group of women, making 

 a brilliant and strange picture with their red, blue or yellow 

 boots, ornamented fur trousers, calico jackets of brightest 

 hues, and many-colored bead collars, awaited us. 



It was not long before our goods were housed, as the 

 natives lent willing though curious hands. My hat, a mod- 

 est affair, suitable to my needs, I laid aside on entering the 

 house, and it was soon surrounded by an admiring group 

 of women, who exclaimed " bene-suse " (fine) many times, 

 over the pink roses. I imagine they thought them growing 

 there, unwatered. 



In a short time we said farewell to our shipmates who 

 had proved such pleasant company, and saw the " Hope " 

 pass from our sight around the distant cape. We then 

 turned our minds to the task of house-settling in the little 

 cottage that was to be our home for a month. This cottage 

 was more commodious than those of the natives, boasting 

 three rooms instead of one, though the exterior was cov- 

 ered with turf like all the others. The large front room 

 had two good-sized windows, facing south and west. The 

 walls were painted light blue, the ceiling pale yellow, and 

 it was altogether a very pleasant living room. The other 

 rooms were smaller, but comfortable; one we used as a 

 kitchen, the other as a store-room for our provisions. The 

 little furniture we had was lent us by the Governor, Carl 

 Harries, a young Dane who, with Inspector Anderson, 

 Assistant Governor Fleisher and his wife, all did their best to 

 make our stay pleasant. They were Danes, but could speak 



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