Chap. V. ' # AMERICA. 66^ 



Bears, with red Patches oh their Heads ; alfo white Hawks, and a ll forts of Fifh. 

 There are moreover in the Countrey divers Rivers, frozen upforttfe moil part of 

 the Year, and covered with Ice ; yet it is generally affirm'd, that it is not fo cold 

 there as in Norway or If eland. On the Hills are faidtogrow Acorns and Nuts, very 

 well tafted, and as big as Apples . alfo as good Wheat as is commonly produced in 

 other Parts. ^ 



. In the Journal of Dithmar ®lefke?i$'s Voyage, mention is made of a certain blind An Account 

 Monk, brought up in the Monaftery of St. Thomas, who reported feveral memora* &*» »*- 

 ble things concerning this Countrey, as that it was call'd Groenland ant iph radically, tofm** 

 or by contrariety of Speech, as appearing feldom or never green; and that it 

 abounded with Bears and white Foxes,and was not without Pygmies and Unicorns, 

 which never appear'd till after the Sun was entred into Jries - that in thefaid Mo- 

 naftery of St. Thomas there was a Fountain of fcalding Water, which was convey 'd 

 through Pipes of Stones to the Monks feveral Cells, and ferv'd them notonely for 

 Stoves, but for the dreifing of their Meat, which was as well boy I'd by means of 

 this Water, as if it had been over a real Fire, and that the Walls of the Monaftery 

 were made of a kind of Pumice-ftone, upon which if Water were pour'd, it would 

 produce a (limy Matter, commonly us'd in ftead of Lime for Mortar, like the Stone 

 of Mount Heda in Ifeland • that two of thefe Pygmies, a Male and a Female, were 

 kept by the Abbot, and were bothendu'd with perfect humane Shape, and over- 

 grown with Hair, even to the outermoft Joynts of their Fingers, the Male efpe- 

 cially, who had a Beard reaching down to his Knees, but that they feem'd wholly 

 devoid of Reafon and Undcrftanding, nor had any diftinft ufe of Speech, onely 

 made a femblance of Hiffing of the manner of Geefe 5 laftly, he reported the dura* 

 tion of the Lives of thefe Creatures to be anfwerable to the fliortnefs of their Sta- 

 ture • but that concerning their Wars with the Cranes, he had no other knowledge 

 than by Tradition, 



• The Defcription of Groenland left by Mu James Hall, renders it a high, mourt- From lirM 

 tainous, and craggy Region, iufnciently water d with Rivers, and provided with Defcription. 

 good Harbors, of a Soil not unfertile in all places where he came, having between 

 the Mountains fruitful Valleys and pleafant Plains, abounding with feveral forts 

 of Fowl, as Partridges, Pheafants, Sea-mews, Gulls, Crows, ere. but of Beafts, 

 chiefly black Foxes, and (as was conje&ur'd by the plenty of Harts-horns found 

 about their Tents) Rein*Deer, yet not deftitute of other Beafts, the Vejligmm of 

 one whereof was found to be not lefs than eight Inches over. 



As for the Manners and Cuftoms of the Natives, they are by the faid Defcri- 

 ption reprefented to be a kind of Samoid, or wandring People, ftill moving from 

 place to place, warlike and active, ufing Slings and Darts with marvellous dexte- 

 rity, of a brown Complexion for the moftpart, and of an indifferent Stature, eat- 

 ing their Meat either quite raw, or onely a little parboyl'd, Clothing themfelves 

 with the Skins of fuch Beafts, or other Creatures, as they kill, efpecially Seals, or 

 fomeof the largeft fize of Fowls, which they Drefs very fmooth and foft, turning 

 the Feather or Hair fide outwards in Summer, and inward in Winter. Their Wea- 

 pons Bowes,Slings,and Bone or Iron-headed Darts j their Religion Idolatrous,but 

 chiefly Sun-Worfhip,aswas gathered from their manner of Accoft,when any of the 

 Englijh firft approach'd them, for they us'd to point up to the Sun, as chief Author 

 of their felicity, arid then beat their Breads, crying, Wont, which feem'd to figniflc 

 as much as Imean no harm, and would not come near till thofe that met them did 

 the like. Their Houfes built of Whales Bones, and the Baulks thereof with Whales 

 Ribs, and cover'd with Earth, but the beft fort with Seal-Skins, having Vaults ox 



Rooms 



