* 



GOVERNOR VISITS THE SHIP. 71 



CHAPTER III. 



Visit of Governor Elberg to the Ship. — His Pleasure at American Progress. — Adam 

 Beck. — Another Mountain Ascent. — The" Woman's Hood." — A grand Scene. — 

 Ball on board Ship. — Sun's Eclipse. — Danger to Ship and Boat in a Gale. — Cu- 

 rious Esquimaux Eeats. — Mishap to the George Henry's Windlass. — A stirring 

 Picture. — Kind Assistance of the Governor. — Preparations for Departure. — Let- 

 ters Home. — Leave-taking. — Final Adieus. — Farewell to Holsteinborg. 



Our consort, the Rescue, having rejoined us, it was determined 

 by Captain Budington to depart for his whaling-ground on west 

 side Davis's Straits directly all the necessary preparations about 

 the ship were completed for navigating among the ice. Mean- 

 while I availed myself of the spare time to frequently visit the 

 shore, and take rambles in the neighborhood. But, though I find 

 many things in my journal that might be worth mentioning at 

 this period, yet there is so much to be said elsewhere, when I ar- 

 rive on the actual field of my labors, that I must now hurriedly 

 go over what more occurred at Holsteinborg. 



I here make a few extracts from my journal : 



u July ISih. This afternoon Governor Elberg, with his lieuten- 

 ant and wife, visited us, and were welcomed to the best of our 

 power. I had promised the governor to show him a collection 

 of arctic charts brought with me, and also the British Parlia- 

 mentary Eeports of the Searching Expeditions, and the works of 

 Kane, Franklin, Parry, etc. He was greatly interested, making 

 many inquiries that I took pleasure in answering. A map of the 

 United States much attracted his attention, and he asked^ several 

 questions as to our home progress, and the rise of new cities, in- 

 ventions, etc. Street-railroads were quite new to him, he never 

 having heard of such in the Old Country. 



£< He inquired very much about Mr. Grrinnell, whose name is as 

 familiar in Greenland as it is in the United States and Europe. 



"At our tea the governor partook of two dishes which he then 

 tasted for the first time in Greenland, viz., fresh lobsters and cran- 

 berry preserves. He pronounced them ' very good.' American 

 cheese — with which he keeps himself well supplied — he also likes 

 much. 



