486 W. Thalbitzeh 



It is worth remarking, that whilst rivets were fairly common in 

 the objects from Nualik, not a single, true iron nail was used. All 

 the fixings on the kaiak and sledge were made by means of wooden 

 nails, similarly those on the sides and bottom of the men's boxes. 



The natives have only had primitive means to work the iron, 

 partly stones to hammer, bend or grind it, so far as these operations 

 were possible, and partly the implements constructed by themselves 

 to bore or beat holes in the iron by means of pieces of iron fixed 

 on wood or bone. I may refer here to the information, which Am- 

 drup received from the Eskimo at Ammassalik regarding the objects 

 discovered. Nos. 480—481 are described as two instruments to bore 

 holes in iron ; they resemble the common drill sticks, except that 

 both the wooden haft and iron point are heavier. The latter is 

 wedged into a cleft or socket at the end of the haft and are square 

 in section, so that the surface consists of four flat sides, separated 

 by four sharp edges, which meet at the end of the point. These 

 borers, one of which is figured in fig. 202, have been used to make 

 large holes. On the other hand, nos. 483 — 484 (fig. 235) were ex- 

 plained as drills for making eyes in sewing needles. No. 432 (fig. 200), 

 which looks like a hammer, was explained as an instrument for 

 making holes in iron. The iron head, which is thick and broad at 

 the one end, narrow and rod-like at the other, is wedged into a 

 groove in the side of the wooden handle. The broad end seems to 

 have had a sharp edge. Holding the handle, the broad end was placed 

 on edge against the piece of iron and a hammer (stone?) was used 

 to strike on the narrow end. 



On the use of iron in former times in Greenland. — There 

 is evidence from high up on the coast of East Greenland, that the 

 Eskimo have known the use of iron in their implements. As the iron 

 found must be considered to have come there from foreign parts, 

 the question is, how has it. reached this coast? and how long has it 

 been used? — These questions lead to a historical digression. 



With regard to the West Greenlanders, О. Solberg has called 

 attention to the fact, that the first discoverers in the 16th centurj' 

 (Frobisher and Davis) ^) already found iron used by the natives on 



\) Frobisher (1577) pp. 226 — 227: "They have some yron whereof they make arrow 



heads, knives, and other little instruments — three sorts of heads to those 



arrows: one sort of stone or yron, proportioned like to a heart" etc. John 

 Davis (1586) p. 398: "We had among them copper oare, black copper, and red 

 copper." — It is well-known, further, that pieces of bell metal were found along 

 the wliole of the west coast of Greenland, originating from the ruins of the 

 Icelandic churches of the middle ages in South Greenland. Through their jour- 

 ncAS and bartering the Eskimo have distributed pieces of this useful material 

 far beyond the place where they found it. Cf. Kberlin (1888) p. 18; K.I. V. Stcen- 

 striii) in "Medd. om Grønland" Vol. IV, p. 122. 



