Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1871-12-05
4 Greenland Parliament.

/ 4 Greenland Parliament.
1t is pleasant to contemplate the change
which has come over the EsquimauX of
Greenland since the christian missionaries
first came among them. At the time
when they overcame the Norhman, and
occupied the country which hardy
Christian people had for long while
possessed in peace, they led purely
nomadic life, and dressed solely in the
skins of wild beasts. Now they live in
permanent communities, and have adopt
dc the habits and, in some measure, the
customs of civilized men. Unlike many
savage people, the introduction of the
forms OF civilization among them has
not been attended with the usual cores
pouding mischicf-a circumstance due, in
a great measure, il not wholly, to the pa
icrnal care Of the Danish government,
which beginning with the first missionary,
Hans Egedc, in 1921, has been continued
with much skill by his successors, and by
none more conspicnously than DR.. Henry
Rank, who has passed . considerable
portion of his time in Greenland, and
was, until lately, royal inspector for the
southern districts.
The principal feature OF Dr. Ranks ad.
minisIration is the parliament of natives,
aud in the establishment OF this arrange
uenJ it, author has earned rs much credit
ior skilled benevolenco as he had before
acquired for scientific exploration.
The idea OF an Esquimaux parliament
struck me rs something ludicrous when
| inst heard OF it, but upon gaining an
intimate acquaintance with its workings,
| changed my mind, and became con-
yiuced that other parIaments might i'm
itate-them with advantage.
Each little town or hunting station OF
the district is at liberty to send up u rep
resenlative TO Il seat in the parliament at
Julianashaab, the number OF representa-
tives being twelve. The most important
towns, besides the capital, are NcnoItalik,
FredcricksdaIc, Lichtenau, Igalliko, and
Kraksiment.
The parliament was in session during
our stay, and visited is as a privileged
guest; for, be il known, the Julianashaab
parliament sits with closed doors The
parliament house is not an imposing ed.
iiice. | should say It's dimensions are
about sixteen by twenty feet. 1t is one
story high, is built of rough pine boards,
lined on the inside and painted blue, and
on the outside is plastered over with
pitch 1t has no lobby for the accommo-
dation of people who come to the capital
with axes for the public grindstone, and
no committec-rooms for the better con-
fusion OF the public business.
In The middle of the room, or hall,
stood plain pine table, with plain
bench on either side of it, and on each
bench sat six parliamcnlarians, dressed
in seal-skin pantaloons and boots, and
Guernsey lrocks, across which there was
4 very large display OF suspenders. Each
parliamentarian head was covered with q
cap composed of the brightest kind of
scarlet cloth, ornamented with Il broad
gilt band. The royal emblems were en-
broidered i'll front, and above these there
was golden bear, with crown OH his
head, standing comfortably on his hind
legs, to typify Greenland. There was a
thirteenth cap nj the head OF the table,
and this was worn by Mr.. Anthon, pastor
of Julianashaab, and president of the
Juliapashaab parliament er ofcio.
The aggregate amount of dignity pos.
sessed by this parliament was something
wonderful to see. To be sure, the par.
liamentarians were somewhat impregnat-
ed with iishy aroma, indicative of their
nationality and calling; but neither the
lishy aroma nor the dignity appeared TO
interfere with the transaction of business
on the contrary, they seemed to be work.
ing away like beavers; and, indeed, they
disposed OF the matters before them with
such an amazing degree of promptness
that fell to wondering whether dignity
would not be good thing to introduce
into parliaments, congresses, assemblies,
and such like things generally.
The first business was in form of Pc
tition for relief. The petitioner stood
there in person, looking the very picture
OF fororn destitution. lie stated that
he had lost his canoe (kaYak), and he
produced evidence enough to show, with.