GREENLAND. 



389 



hitherto known in Greenland. More generally, however, the trees, such as the 

 beech, the willow, the elder, etc., merely creep along the ground, where the 

 dense matting of their roots and branches, mingled with bushes of the empe- 

 trum, or with mosses, lichens, and fallen leaves, forms a kind of turf which is 

 used as fuel by the Danes. 



In some measure the sea makes up for the want of timber by casting on the 

 shore a quantity of drift-wood, the origin of which is still a matter of doubt, 

 some tracing it to the !N"orth American rivers, others to those of Siberia. It 

 consists mostly of the uj^rooted trunks of coniferous trees. Sometimes also 

 large pieces of bark, such as those of which the Indians make their canoes, and 

 sewn together with threads of hair, and drifted into the fjords. 



The mineral kingdom, though it has within the last few years attracted the 

 attention of speculators, will hardly ever realize their hopes. Several attempts 

 to work the lead and copper ores at Nanursoak and in the Arksak fjord have 

 miserably failed. The cost of transport is immense, and the difSculty of ob- 

 taining the necessary workmen presents an insuperable obstacle to all mining 

 operations in Greenland. 



Though the Greenlanders have now been for more than a century under the 

 influence of Christian teachers, yet their mode of life is still much the same as 

 "that of their relatives the wild Esquimaux on the opposite continent of North 

 America. Like them, they use the " kayak," the " oomiak," and the sledge ; 

 like them, they live in small winter huts of stone (the snow-house is unknown 

 to them) or in summer tents hung with skins, and they are equally improvi- 

 dent in times of abundance. Their constant intercourse with Europeans has, 

 however, taught them the use of many luxuries unknown to the wild Esqui- 

 maux, and they are now great consumers of coffee. They are fond of instruc- 

 tion, but the immense space over which the population is scattered, and their 

 vagrant life during a great part of the year, are great hinderances to their im- 

 provement. They are also very good-natured, and live on the best terms with 

 the Danes who reside among them. The latter, who, with the exception of the 

 Moravian missionaries, are all in the service of the Company, soon get attached 

 to the country, and leave it with regret ; sometimes even returning to close 

 their days in Greenland. 



The climate, though severe, is very healthy, and the lover of sport finds am- 

 ple opi^ortunities for gratifying his favorite passion. In September, or at the 

 beginning of October, the last ships leave for Europe ; and then, till the next 

 April or May — when the first English whalers appear in the ports of GodhaAni 

 or Upernavik — all communication with the civilized world is totally cut off. 

 Towards the end of January or the beginning of February, when the days begin 

 rapidly to lengthen, frequent sledge-parties keep up a constant interchange of 

 visits between the various settlements. This mode of travelling over the lakes 

 and inclosed fjords is very agreeable in May, as then the sun is pleasantly 

 warm at noon ; and though he hardly disappears below the horizon, the nights 

 are sufliciently cold to convert the melted snow into ice hard enough to bear 

 the weight of a sledge. This is the best time for visiting many interesting 

 spots inaccessible at other seasons of the year, and for enjoying many a scene 



