594 KANSAS CITY J? E VIEW OF SCIENCE. 



for treatment. The Governor, the Inspector, their assistants and the humbler 

 Danes, all are thirsty for the arrival of the Danish vessel." 



The Greenland settlements are very much alike, and consist of the residence 

 of the Danish Governor or chief trader in the interest of Denmark, a large store- 

 house where the oil, skins, furs, eider-down and other products of the country 

 are exchanged for the commodities sent out by the Danish Government. The 

 Danes are open-hearted, good people, and are especially kind to Arctic travelers, 

 so many of whom they have known as to be thoroughly versed in the history of 

 travel in Greenland. 



During every spring nearly everybody is attacked with influenza or pneu- 

 monia. This is a very interesting time to study the native, his habits and dis- 

 eases, and the necessary modes of treatment, peculiarly moderated or intensified 

 to suit this climate. This yearly spring epidemic spreads frequently over all the 

 districts that have communication with Godhaven. It is believed to be brought 

 by the whalers. Many Greenlanders die of it. Apropos to the term I have just 

 used, little is known of the estimate put upon the word Esquimau by the natives 

 themselves. They suppose that we use it to symbolize what is savage and cruel 

 and uncivilized, and object seriously to the use of the term, and both prefer and 

 use the name Greenlanders. 



Practicing medicine as a matter of course, in Greenland, is simply a gratuity, 

 but becomes a friendly sesame to the inner life and confidence of these simple 

 but good people. The natives are much opposed and truly stubborn in regard 

 to the use of medicine. On one occasion I insisted that some must be taken, 

 when I was offered the same and perhaps the only encouragement the Esquimau 

 could offer in the reply, "Well, doctor, how much will you pay me if I take it ? " 

 The Esquimau has quite an eye for beauty if in colored or pleasing forms. The 

 Inspector's wife, a Danish lady of European education, on an occasion of a re- 

 turn from a pleasure ride, asked her maid who had her children in charge, to 

 hold and carefully preserve a bouquet of flowers she had gathered to present her 

 husband. The maid admired them exceedingly and a little later was asked why 

 she had thrown them out of the boat. Her answer was that they were beautiful 

 and that she had not thrown them away, but had eaten them. This was a de- 

 vouring admiration of her kind, but not fully appreciated by her mistress. Dur- 

 ing the light months I made frequent visits by sledge travel to various places and 

 settlements of interest. 



My longest sledge journey was a circuitous one of 750 miles, taking in the 

 settlements of Godhaven, Rittenbank, Egedismundi, Proven and Upernavik. I 

 was drawn over the ice by about eighteen dogs and one companion — an Esqui- 

 mau. We had some severe mishaps and many self-denials and wretched meals, 

 at one time breaking through the ice and having to abandon a sledge and to find 

 anew, which proved to be a long, winding route toward Godhaven. My cheeks 

 became badly frozen and remained black for some length of time. 



When I desired a new guide or any assistance one was furnished me most 

 readily and generously, who had to drag his own sledge, too, through the unceas- 



