INTRODUCTION. 
XXXV 
being the most suitable possible to the nature of 
the climate, and the resources and circumstances 
of the inhabitants. 
For the credit of the civilized world, it ought 
to be mentioned, that the ancient Greenland co¬ 
lonies have not been wholly forgotten, nor totally 
neglected. Denmark has made several attempts 
for the recovery of them ; but it is an extraordi¬ 
nary fact, that none of her expeditions to the east¬ 
ern side of preenland (one perhaps excepted) have 
ever reached the coast. 
About the middle of the sixteenth century, the 
first expeditions, of which we have any account, 
were dispatched from Denmark, in search of the 
ancient colonies in Greenland. Among these, 
Magnus Heinson, who passed for a renowned sea¬ 
man in his day, was sent out by Frederick II., 
King of Denmark, in the year 1578. After en¬ 
countering many difficulties and dangers from 
storms and ice, he obtained sight of the east coast 
of Greenland; but, after proceeding some time 
towards it, without appearing to get any nearer, 
though circumstances were very favourable for 
