82 An Esquimaux Dance. 



Monday, June 2nd. — The " Erik " arrived early 

 this morning, having been delayed outside in con- 

 sequence of the strong wind. I went on shore in 

 the morning with my artificial horizon, to try and 

 get sights, but a heavy snow-storm coming on, 

 effectually obscured the sun and precluded all obser- 

 vations. In the afternoon, accompanied by his 

 Excellency, we walked over the settlement, and 

 called upon Mr. Larsen, the Governor, who is a 

 Dane, and subordinate to the Inspector. In the 

 evening an Esquimaux dance was got up for our 

 special edification, to which we all adjourned at 

 about ten o'clock. It was held in a store-house, 

 the casks and barrels having been placed outside 

 for the purpose. The dimensions of this extem- 

 porized ball-room were about 18 feet long by 12 

 broad and 6 high ! Into it were crammed our 

 party, consisting of nine, about thirty Esquimaux, 

 and about twice that number of men from the two 

 whalers. The space left for dancing' was, as may 

 be imagined, very limited. The festivities com- 

 menced with a true native dance, the performers 

 being- four men, with an equal number of women ; 

 the band, a rusty old fiddle played by an Esqui- 

 maux. The dance itself appeared to be a compound 

 of a quadrille and double shuffle, interspersed with 

 a few figures somewhat similar to those practised by 

 the South Sea Islanders. 



The seamen from the ships, and even some of our 



