The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-08
Letter from Dr.. Hayes.

received from DR.. l. I. Hayes. It will be
seen that he has enjoyed several rare oppor-
tunitics for his observations In Greenland:
iv''T s1;i La :, 81 s.sI u s:sse.'l
lyiarDr, sorTn GaEEsLAED, July %, 1856.
-. MY DEAR SIR: A ship freighted with kryo-
lite sails for Philadelphia In q few hours,
and I avail myself Of the unexpected oppor-
tunity to send youa friendly greeting.
After leaving Newfoundland We made our
first landfall at Cape Dcsolation, where the
weather being dirty, and there being on this
coast neither lighthouse nor pilots, VIC were
forced TO get an anchor down and hold on
three days before we could steam into Ju-
lianshaab, the best OF the Greenland colo
MES. There We arrived July 10. A few
items OF our doings since that date may in
tercst you.
First, on the 18th, We went up to the old
Morse ruins Of Kratortak, the finest on the
coast, and In novel fashion. My old friend, the
Rev. Mr.. Anthem, formerly Of Upcrnavik,)
kindly acted as guide, and we crowded into
woman's scal-skin boat-thnt Is to say, an
Umiak, which was thirty-slx feet long, and
was propelled by six stout native women.
The temperature was G5 degrees, grand the
scenery and many the novelties, so we passed
most delightful day, bothered only by mos
quitoes, which are more numerous here and
more vicious, verify believe, than In any
other part of the known world.
How old the ruins arc nobody knows; but
certainly not less than eight centuries; and
as ! wandered through the church-yard and
about the once massive walls of the homes
Of the hardy Vikings and sons OF Vikings,
who long ago peopled this coast, the story
OF their wonderful deeds seemed written In
the very stones. The church ruin Tor Cathe-
draD stands very much Us when draah via
tied Il some forty years ago. One gable is
yet eighteen feet hight the three doorways
are perfect, and some Of the windows arc In
five feet thick, and In places still very firm.
While Bradford was busy with his brush,
and Dunmore and Cricherson with their
camera, l made q careful plot of all the
ruins, which arc nine In number. 1t will
please your curious eyes, as the photographs
will delight you.
From Junashaab, where, by tho way, l
must not forget to mention, We had some fine
fresh Greenland beef and any quantity of
milk, we steamed out to sub-colony called
Krakssiment, where, directed by an ancient
Dane, Metzfelt by name, (the only white
man In the place. we went up ford to the
front OF great glacier, and there we lay at
anchor four days on the most amicablc terms
with the monstrous body In stream-photo-
graphing It,, sketching 1t, surveying 1t, tray
cling upon 1t, and, in-short, doing nothing
The photographs from 1t are really su-
perb-are taken from every possible point Of
view, and are everything the heart could
wish for. Tho weather was warm as an
carly autumn day at home, and was en-
joycd by all. There was nothing to inter-
fere with us but the aforesaid mosquitoes,
which, fortunately, did not reach the ship,
nor yet tho summit Of the glacier. believe
nothing could possibly be finer than the
photographs obtained.
Unhapplly for our complete sense Of COM
fort, the glacier was less disposed to DO neigh.
borly than we, for he set up terrible fusi-
lade the moment we got there; and besides
some thousands Of tons Of Ice, which, at in
tervals, broke from the front, seven icebergs.
one after another, rolled their unwieldly
forms Into the sea and set the waves upon
us at such terrible rate that We were glad
enough to get to safer place of refuge. But
few persons have ever seen an iceberg break
of. We can rejoice In having both seen and
felt them. We may rhapsodlzc about Mag
araj Its roar, Its vastness; but one knows
not where to begin with discharglng gla-
cier; so will not attempt 1t on so small bit
ofpaper.
hearty welcome from tho controller Of the
mines, Mr.. Saxtorf; the director, Mr.. Fritz,
and the agent Of the American Company,
Captain Reynolds. One Is quito amazed at
the apparently inexhaustible supply of kryo-
lite In tho bed which they have opened.
The mine Is In fact quarry, the bottom
Of which Is some forty feet below the level
of tho sea, and Is perhaps ATTY yards across
and as many up from the beach. 1t lies
upon the south side Of this deep ford Of
Arsuk, which runs back many miles into
the interior, and like most Of the Greenland
1ords is terminated by a glacier. A hun
dred miners get out about eleven thousand
tons Of the mineral per annum. The min
cral Is immensely rich-ninety-six to ninety
nine per cent. Of soda and alum and al
though not sufficient In quantity to pay for
working, the bed is prolific In other ores.
In a half hours walk about the works
picked up specimens Of iron, silver, lead, tin,
copper and arsenic. Strange 1t seems that
this mineral, so precious aud so valuable,
should be found here alone.
Tomorrow we put to sea, and then, north
ward no beneath the midnight sun. Thus
far all has been novel to me; but henceforth
shall be among familiar scenes. We ge
on finely. Everybody is In the best of spirits
and the very best Of health. Tho ship could
not be improved upon for either strength OF
comfort; and please God, In a couple OF
, months will fetch TO you In person my mex
budget Of news.
Meanwhile, believe nc, ever faithful!
yours, ISAAC !. HAYES.