MAEIOX 



EXPEDITION TO DAVIS STRAIT AND BAFFIN BAY 



11 



At 4.30 p. m. the .ship <2:(>t under way and began to move in slowly 

 aniono- the numerous islets tliat bhx-k the southern entrance to Godt- 

 haab Fiord. On our general chart these oltlying rocks and skerries 

 were clustered like so many flyspecks. Over the land the air was 

 very clear and somew^hat w^armer than over the cold w^ater just off 

 the coast. The only snow that could be seen lay in sheltered niches 

 and clefts on the higlier mountains. No sign was visible of the great 

 Greenland ice cap. because its western edge lies separated from Godt- 

 haab by over 50 miles of rough and mountainous country. 



AVe were surprised to see so many evidences of plant life upon tlie 

 near-by rockv shore. Brownish-green vegetation extended in most 

 places very close to the water's edge, showing that the islets can not 

 be exposed to as much heavy surf as might be expected from their 

 location near the open sea. Many soundings were taken with the 



GODTHAAB, GREENLAND 



Figure 7. — As we approached the village of Godthaab, the Marion fired a national salute 

 of 21 guns. This was the first honor of the kind from an American man-of-war, in 

 many years, and the first ever rendered hy a United States Coast Guard vessel in 

 Greenland. 



fathometer in the approach to Godthaab, while the ship was being 

 carefully conned in with a good lookout for submerged rock ledges 

 kept from aloft. 



At 6.30 p. m. the Marlon stopped off the town of Godthaab, Green- 

 land, and fired a national salute of 21 guns. The town was amazingly 

 different from the summer fishing villages seen a few days before in 

 Labrador. Even from the harbor it w^as seen to be much neater 

 and more prosperous looking. Here the majority of the buildings 

 were freshly painted in red and white. 



Several hundred natives in brightly trimmed costumes watched 

 the Marion from points of vantage on the low hills about the town. 

 Minor Danish officials were brought alongside in a pulling boat from 

 which they came on board after they had been satisfied that health 

 conditions on board w^ere good. One of them offered to conduct the 

 ship to a secure berth. He explained, Avhile piloting the ship around 



