28 



' ' MARION ' ' EXPEDITION TO DAVIS STEAIT AND BAFFIN BAY 



limestone and sandstone, streaked with almost horizontal seams of 

 coal. Near sea level, as at Godhavn, the usual rock was ancient 

 ice-worn gneiss. 



From 2,23 to 4.45 p. m. the Marion was engaged taking a series of 

 oceanographic stations to the southwestward across the Vaigat from 

 70° 08' N., 52° 37' W. After the last station the Disko Island 

 shore was skirted southeastward for a couple of miles to where the 

 Danes were developing a coal mine in latitude 70° 04' N. Near the 

 mine a muddy torrent roared down from the ice cap on the lofty 

 plateau of Disko Island. In the yellow water off this stream the 

 Marion came to anchor at 5.30 p. m., Doctor Porsild having advised 



COAST GUARDSMEN AND NATIVES DANCE 



Figure 23. — Almost every hamlet at wliicb the Marion stopped honored us with a dance. 

 The settlement about the coal mine at East Disko on the shores of the Vaisat (lati- 

 tude 70° 04' N.) was no exception. Note the picturesque sealskin hoots of the Green- 

 land women. 



a short stop to afford the European mining engineers and theii* 

 families a break in the monotony of an isolated life. 



The coal seams about the mine were visited, and the ship was 

 inspected by the Europeans and a few of the natives of the place. 

 The Danes hope to produce enough coal at the mine to take care of 

 Greenland's requirements, making further importation of European 

 fuel for heating unnecessary, and furnishing work for a number of 

 natives at the same time. 



True to form, the latter got up a dance at short notice for their 

 sailor visitors. It was held here on a small board platform in the 

 open. Although the sun was still several hours high, the mining 

 settlement already lay in the shadow of the rocky heights of Disko 



