Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-11-02
THE FAR NORTH.
Notcs Of Artic Voyaging.

poSseSSions beyond the Artio nice-Gelds -
The vessels came together IN little shell
tered nook on the rocky coast of Green
land on the 10th of August, and. aftel
the one had supplied the other to the ut
most extent of the little receptacle'si con
tanning power, they parted-one for the
mysterious region which has thus far de
MED access to the most hardy adventure
the other to the geninal latitude Of 4o
degrees. 'i .-slii .o,-l2te e hiad % 1
The Instructions from floating ice were
found to be less serious than was appre
hended, the season having been more ia,
vorable In this respect than was ever be-
fore known by he present inhabitants Of
these frozen regions. Whether tneir
mental faculties ever thaw cut during the
short summer they enjoy is still an open
question; but certainly some of the ma
tive statements are to be taken "cua gra-
no SaltS." II q 3 ~G rre
cc APPROACH TO DISCO.
As we made our way through the ice
mountains which glistened in the sun-rays
in brilliant contrast with the grim peaks
of dark conglomerate rock, surrounded
with layers of crumbling sandstones,
whose tops were covered with snow, form
ing the coast of Greenland, we reached
the 10th degree of latitude But no
signs of life appeared-no hdbitation, no
beacon, signal or lighthouse nothing to
indicate harbor; a gloomy-looking coast
hard and sterile, shooting up its points of
rock, or its fat-top mountains, to the
height of two or three thousand feet into
the air. Still guided by the unerring
skill of the navigator, aided by his instru-
ments and charts, we steered for the
shore, and as we drew near the coast
found at the precise point to which science
led US, factsto confirm the calculations. =
Among the rocks the little flag of the '.Po-
laris' was seen by our glasses to futter
was discerned on the water, and shortly a
boat, rowed by Esquimaux. heaved in
sight, and in little while Captain Hall
leaped on board, overjoyed to meet his
friends. laden with the stores he needed
to complete his Arctic discoveries
CONFIDENT AND ENTHUSIASTIC.
Captain Hall has no misgivings, but is
eager to set out, and feels hopeful OF navi
eating the Polar Sea, and of annexipg the
newly fouGd continent to our national do
main. He .putthe Congress" in charge
of his seal clad pilot, who showed a mar
row opening into a little harbor, and after
a sharp turn, revealed TO our view the
town Of Disco.
We have now full view of he head
quarters of the ..'Insrcctor of North
The town lies on q rocky
ledge, near the shore. and consists Of two
or three wooden dwellings, and as many
warehouses, painted red, with roof black
ened by a species of tar or bitumeu, and
number of Esquimaux huts made of turf
and stone. The ''Rcgal Company of Den
mark" have exclusive jurisdiction in
Greenland. and enjoy monopoly of its
trade. The furs. fish and oil are taken
from the natives at about the rate OF one
of their value in Copenhagen, in
exchange for provisions and clothing.
The whole continent is divided into
two "Inspectories," North and South
Greenland, while each particular settle
ment has a local .'Goyerner," who is the
trader, magistrate and executive officer.
Twice each year vesselcomes from Den
mark, laden with supplies, and visits each
gathering up the stores that
have been collected from the natives.
Shortly after dropping anchor, Captain
Davenport, of the Congress, made an Off
cial call upon the representative of the
King of Denmark in Greenland. As the
little boat carrying the flag and the re-
of the United States neared
the shore salute of twelve guns was fired
from little battery in front of the Gov.
ernment House. The door of the Execu-
tive Mansion was opened by an Esqui-
maux waitress, with handsome face and
rich native costume, consisting of seal
skin coat, breeches and boots, fantastical-
ly ornamented with bright colors in silks,
cloth and fur, her head crowned with a
tall spire of natural hair bound with rib,
bons. We were ushered first into hall
where cloaks and furs were taken from us
thence into room furnished with a brill
liant table, and through that to drawing
room. which contained the usual applian-
ces of a civilized home-book cases, sofas,
a piano. centre table and window flowers.
The Inspector and his wife, the Gov
ernor and his wife-the only Europeans
in the settlement-were there to receive
the visitors from the United States. They
gave very hearty welcome and polite
greeting to the foreigners. The Govern
orr cannot speak or understand word of
English. but Inspector" Smith had no
great difficulty in making himself intelli-
gible to US. His wife, however, who is
quite refined. intelligent lady, converses
very freely in English. having learned
the language entirely from books.
After the proper business had been
the warehouse secured for the
or reserved stores of the "Po-
Iaris," Mrs. Smith favored us with sever
al pieces of music on the piano (among
them we recognized some of the marches
played by our bands), and closed with an
air sung in all lands-"Home, Sweet
Home"
These two families reside in this far off
icy home, with no other society than they
find among the miserable natives and half
breeds; an occasional call from a whaler,
aud the regular visits of their Danish ship,
forming their only relief from the dreary
monotony Of this frost bitten region.
This singular people. who wander with
such wonderful teDacity of life among
these frozen regions, up to the very Pole
itself. as is supposed, resemble in color
and in their general physique the Chinese.
Although they have been nnder the infu-
snce of civilization for a century or more,
they still retain, to a considerable extent,
heir savage mode of life. Many of their
dwellings, are mere mounds of turf, under
which they .burrow like the four-footed
tribes. Some erect walls of stone, cover