July, 1857. CHEISTIAN, THE DOG-DRIVER. 27 



amongst the wild flowers. I do not know a 

 more enticing spot in Greenland for a week's 

 shooting, fishing, and yachting than Disco 

 Fiord ; hares and ptarmigan may be found 

 along the bases of the hills ; ducks are most 

 abundant upon the fiord, and delicious salmon- 

 trout very plentiful in the rivers. Formerly 

 Disco was famed for the large size and abundance 

 of its reindeer ; but for some unexplained reason 

 they now confine themselves to the mainland. 



At this season the natives of Godhaab resort 

 here and enjoy the trout fishery, — it is truly 

 their season of harvest : the weather is pleasant, 

 food delicious and abundant, and the labour an 

 agreeable pastime. 



Some kayaks soon came off to the ship, 

 bringing salmon-trout, both fresh and smoked. 



A young Esquimaux, named Christian, volun- 

 teered his services as our dog-driver, and was 

 accepted ; he is about 23 years of age, un- 

 married, and an orphan. The men soon tho- 

 roughly cleansed and cropped him : soap and 

 scissors being novelties to an Esquimaux : they 

 then rigged him in sailor's clothes ; he was evi- 

 dently not at home in them, but was not the 

 less proud of his improved appearance, as re- 

 flected in the admiring glances of his country- 

 men. 



