VOL. XLII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 723 



all the inhabitants; and from time to time Greenland multiplied into new co- 

 lonies, many churches and abbeys were built, bishops and other teachers pro- 

 vided for : but the Norwegians were not the first inhabitants ; for they found 

 wild people on the west side, who doubtless were originally Americans. Tiie 

 present inhabitants probably are a race of the Schrellingers. 



In 1721, a company of traders was set up in Bergen, with a royal privilege, 

 when king Frederic resolved to begin a colony at ti4°, with which Egede and 

 his family went, and continued 15 years. Their design was to find the eastern 

 district, as the best. A Hollander affirmed some of their ships had been there, 

 and found the land free from ice in 62°. This Mr. E. found to be true in 

 1736. 



In the Bay of Hope there are many good places for feeding cattle, with 

 proper grounds for tillage, and good water : no trees, except within the rivers, 

 only brush-wood ; juniper-bushes abound here, whose berries are the size of 

 the largest peas. There are divers plants here, as angelica, rosemary, scurvy- 

 grass ; and a grass with yellow flowers, whose root smells like roses in the 

 Spring. In 60 and 65°, the country is best, and barley will ripen there: tur- 

 nips and colewort grow well ; especially the first, which are large, and of a 

 sweet taste. 



There are rocks which produce verdigrise, as also sulphur or brimstone, mar- 

 casite ; and he found on an island one of a yellow brown sand, having cinna- 

 barine red veins. There are whole mountains of the asbestos. There is found 

 a grey stone, or bastard marble, of different colours. The sea produces several 

 sorts of conchs and mussels, also divers sorts of corallines. 



The summer here lasts from May to September. The cold at 64° is mode- 

 rate, but at 68, &c. extreme, and will freeze brandy. The land is constantly 

 covered with ice and snow, except near the sea, and in the rivers. Though 

 the summer oft-times is warm in Greenland, it seldom or never thunders, &c. 

 The aurora borealis is so strong here towards new moon in clear weather, as 

 you may read by it. 



Greenland produces bears, which live on the ice, and are dextrous at catch- 

 ing otters, seals, &c. Rain-deer are in great plenty. Hares are very large, 

 good, and white all the year. There are plenty of foxes. They have dogs, 

 none of which can bark, but only howl. Their birds are the ryper, or wood- 

 partridge, ravens, eagles, falcons, sparrows, goldfinches, &c. The mosquitoes 

 are very troublesome in July and August. 



Besides whales, the seas produce the sword-fish, the whale's greatest enemy: 

 and when he kills one, eats nothing but his tongue, leaving the rest to the 

 shark, walross, and birds of prey. In these seas are cachelots or pot fish, a 



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