WRECKED ON THE COAST OF GREENLAND 



were rapidly melting in the spring this channel had become 

 so clogged with masses of snow and ice that the water 

 deserted its natural bed, and in a manner which seemed 

 incredible rushed directly across the neck of the low penin- 

 sula to the side opposite from that of the natural depres- 

 sion. The possibility of so destructive a flood in such a 

 situation gave us an idea of the accumulation of snow in 

 the winter which we could not otherwise have obtained. 

 It would seem that during most of the winter the snow is 

 so deep that the igloos entirely disappear beneath it. The 

 entrances to them must then have looked still more like 

 burrows than in the summer. 



CAMP AT IKAMIUT 



Notwithstanding this forbidding exterior of the village, 

 we found the inhabitants the best of neighbors, faithfully 

 practicing both the outward observances and the morali- 

 ties of the Christian religion which had been taught them 

 by their Danish protectors. One of their number acted as 

 catechist, and conducted regular Sunday services in the 



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