The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-10-06
A Country full OF Interests to the Nat.
uralists. Glaciers Theory Of
GeOlOyiStS

Biologists.
The glaciers of Greenland bring no
debris from the interior and the short
valleys through which they reach the
sea rarely unite. The surface material
which is inconsiderable, and seldom
takes the form of medal moraine-
together with that at its base, is fioated
off by the detached bergs, which not
unfrequently capsize in the inlets, and
thus deposit, at least, the greater part
off their burden before reaching the
open sea. Hence, could the submarine
surface be inspected, it would in all
probability be found to consist of tena-
cious clay, imbedding long line OF
boulders, shells, and bones of seals and
other IN rine animals. This matter
must frequently be re-arranged by the
enormous momentum OF ice-beras
grounding upon it, DR.. Brown mentions
the case of berg which in 1867, he OBJ
served at the mouth Of the Waygatz,
carrying a block of rock that, even at %
distance, looked as large as a good-sized
house.
Greenland, though so intensely cold,
and apparently so cherries, is full OF
interest to the naturalist, and by no
means without profit to the merchant.
The outskirting land supports a luxuri
ant growth Of from 800 to 400 species
of plants, some of which ascend to the
height of 1000 feet; many species Of
seals, and whales and fish sport in the
waters, which are also occupied by in
vertebrate animals and seaweeds; every
rock swarms with waterfowl, while land
birds from the south visit the country
as q nesting place countless herds of
reindeer browse. in some of its valleys :,
the bark of the fox is to be heard even
in the depth of Winter and the polar
bear may be seen all the year round.
The Danes, at their first visit, found q
human population there Of 10000; and
within their own possession there is at
present healthy, intelligent, civilized
race of hunters of not less than 10000
souls. Exclusive of home consumption,
the annual exports of the settlements
amounted in 1885 to 1860 barrels OF
seal oil, 47,S09 seal skins, LIZA fox
skins, "a bear skins, 1874 dog skins 3,437
lbs of elder down, 5,206 lbs of feathers,
439 lbs of narwhale ivory, 81 lbs, of wal
rus ivory, and 1886 Tbs, of whalebone.
Biologists have long taught that at
least the west coast OF Greenland is
slowly sinking below the sea. This doc
trine is confirmed by DR.. Brown, who
recapitulates the principal points of the
evidence on which it rests. The fol-
lowing are among the facts he enume-
rates Near the end OF the last century
a small rocky island was observed to be
entirely submerged at springtide high
water, yet on it were the remains Of a
house, rising six feet above the ground; ;
fifty years later the submergence had
so far increased that the ruins alone
were ever above the water. The foun-
dations Of an old storehouse, built on
an island in l776, are now dry only at
low water The remains of native houses
are in one locality seen beneath the sea.
In 1853 the Moravian Mission establish
ment was founded about two miles
from Fiskern@sset. but in thirty years
they were obliged to move, at least
once, the posts on which they rested
their large aaliakS or seal-sl<in boats.
Some of the posts may yet be seen
under water. The dwelling of several
Greenland families, who lived on Say
age Point from l72l to 1916, are now
overfowed by every tide. In one 10.
cality, the ruins of old Greenland
houses are only to be seen at low water.
Tile Popular Science ReOie.o.