31 



a 55 years old Greenlander, told Holm (Holm, iVledd. om Grønl, 

 X. p. 318) the following is told about a man who went out 

 hunting reindeer at Kangerdluarsugsuak at Norsit (where Green- 

 landers lived in former times) : The next day he again went out 

 hunting. Then he saw a big black animal, bigger than a bear, 

 having long hairs on its neck, and horns bent backwards. This 

 animal is called «Pangnek» («musk-ox»). Properly «Pangnek» 

 does not mean «musk-ox», but «reindeer». By the Eskimo 

 that know the musk-ox, it is called Umingmak or Omingmak. 

 Perhaps the story originates from a time when the East Green- 

 landers lived farther North, but it may happen that a dead 

 musk-ox is carried southward by the floating ice, and from that 

 the knowledge of it might originate. 



Thus Holm reports (Medd. om Grønl. IX. p. 134) accor- 

 ding to the relation of the Greenlanders, of a musk-ox, found 

 drifting on the ice at Sermiligak; part of the meat was rotten, 

 but the rest was eaten. Besides it may be observed that 

 Graah, who wintered at Nukarbik on the east coast of Green- 

 land in 1830, did not hear any relation of the musk-ox, from 

 the Greehlanders he met with. 



At what time the musk-ox has wandered to the regions 

 about Scoresby Sund cannot be said with certainty, as long as 

 no better informations are given. 



Referring to the fact that rests of the musk-ox were found 

 neither in the Eskimo hamlets, nor in the Eskimo kitchen- 

 middens, seen during the expedition, that no carved figures of 

 such a strange animal were found in the sites of the houses, 

 that Scoresby did not meet with the musk-ox in the places 

 where they are now so common, Ryder writes (I.e. p. 304): — 



one might be tempted to believe that the musk-oxen 



were not found in any great number in this part of the coast 

 (Scoresby Sund) , at the time when it was inhabited by the 

 Eskimo, but that they, did not come southward in greater 

 numbers till later. 



