Prof. NordensldoM — ExjJedltion to Greenland. 295 



the means at the disposal of the Swedish expedition, Spitzbergen 

 ought to be chosen as the starting-point, more especially as we are 

 thus enabled to lay the last stone upon a series of researches carried 

 on during the course of several years concerning the physical con- 

 dition and natural history of Spitzbergen. 



These are the considerations to which most weight has been as- 

 signed in devising the plan of the Swedish expedition, which is to 

 proceed to the north in 1872. It is intended that the expedition 

 shall consist of three or four scientific men (among whom are to be 

 a natural philosopher and a zoologist, the latter for the study of 

 marine animal life during the winter), with the necessary crew, and 

 that it shall pass the winter in a cot erected for the purpose, if 

 possible, on the Seven Isles, with a magnetic observatory, store- 

 house, etc. From this point the expedition is to make during the 

 latter part of the winter sledge-journeys northward, and, if the time 

 admit of it, eastward toward Gillies Land. But it will be time to 

 communicate further notices of this proposed polar colony, its com- 

 position, preparations, etc., when it is in possession of that of which 

 it is as yet destitute — the interest of a fait accompli. I therefore 

 proceed to a description of this summer's journey to Greenland, 

 undertaken, as has been already mentioned, as preparatory to the 

 polar expedition itself, occupying myself less with our own ad- 

 ventures, which for the public in general are but of little interest, 

 than with giving an account of the scientific results obtained. 



Greenland is not only the first land discovered in the new world, 

 but it is the oldest European colony on the other side of the Atlantic, 

 which, ever since its first planting, near a thousand years ago by 

 Norse-Icelandic Vikings, has constantly, though for a time forgotten, 

 belonged to the same mother-land; and it is honourable to that 

 mother-land that the wild tribes, which for a while after the founda- 

 tion of the colony came in contact with the colonists, have not been 

 brought into that degraded condition indicative of speedily impend- 

 ing extinction which is the case with the original inhabitants of 

 many other lands visited by European civilization. The Green- 

 landers, on the contrary, seem to be in a fair way of development 

 to a small peculiar nationality, which is in a certain degree acquiring 

 the culture of the Caucasian race. Already almost every West- 

 Greenlander can read and write ; a number of small works, not 

 only on religion, but on history, geography, and natural history, 

 are printed in Greenlandish ; and a Greenlandish newspaper, which 

 in respect of typography may vie with most of the European popular 

 newspapers, is printed at Godthaab. 



Greenland, as is known, belongs to Denmark, but is not governed 

 by the ordinary state authorities, but by a Trading Directory (origin- 



the possibility of returning to the depot-ship. Should any of these small vessels suc- 

 ceed in reaciiing an anchoring-place, e.g. in 81° lat., the success of the expedition 

 would be much better secured than if the large vessel wintered in say 79" lat. ; 

 and if one of the small vessels should be lost,- the loss is comparatively trifling; 

 Such an event need not be accompanied by loss of life. 



