The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-12-09
GREENLAND'S ICY MOUNTAINS.
by THE REV. DIR. j. p. NEWMAN.

the coast Of Greenland, yet the continent
has not been circumnavigated, nor its inte-
rior explored. 1t is still the unknown land
Larger than Australia, it has an area of
80, 600 square miles, and up to this time,
the narrow coast line only has been inhab-
tied by civilized man. 1t is curious fact
that its first colonist known to history was
Eric the Red" who, in 9S3 A. D., was
banshcd from Iceland for the crime of
murder. Sailing westward in small YES
sci, he reached Cape Farewell, the south
ernmost limit of Greenland, aud after the
lapse of three years, he induced other col
found country. Having established his
colony, he sent his son, Left, to Norway,
where, by command of the king, he was
instructed in the Christian religion. On
the return of Left to Greenland, he Wds
attended by priest, who baptized Eric
and all the colonists The population in
creased to six thousand souls. The land
was divided into North and South Green
land. in which were six hundred villages
In the early part Of the twelfth century,
Arnold was elected the first bishop, and as
his Successors, not less than seventeen
bishops were chosen whose names have
come down to us. For three hundred years
the colonists prospered, but in the latter
part of the fifteenth century, pestilence
and the wild Esquimaux combined to lay
waste their country and TO destroy their
towns; and to-day may be seen the ruins
of churches and converts. During two
hundred years thereafter, the history of
Greenland remained in obscurity, when, in
1921, Hans Egede came from Denmark,
and through him Danish colonies were
planted alcng the coast. Christian mis-
sions organized. and commercial relations
with Denmark established. The results of
the labors of that good man are seen to-day
in the schools, the churches. and comforta-
BILE homes of the Christian Esquimaux
Yet the life of the Greenlander must lie
very dreary. About the first of October
the last ship leaves for Europe, and fl IN
that time until the next May, they have no
communication with the civilized world;
their year is divided into one long day and
one long night. For many months the sun
never sets: throughout the twenty four
hours, he is seen describing his brilliant
circuit in the northern skies. In July,
you watch his descent toward the horizon
till he seems to dip his golden edge in the
sea: then, seeming to pause in his course
for moment, he mounts again into the
heavens. While we were there month
later, the sun disappeared for less than
four hours; | had watched his setting at ten
PM, covering sea and sky with gold and
purple: but the heavens remained bright
with a mellow light, by which read dur
ing the brief night; and at one AN, he re-
appeared Ill glory. This WAS a novelty,
and felt free from the slavery of hours,
but that prolonged day brought with it a
strange excitement. knew not when to
retire. when to rise. Bells called us to
breakfast. lunch and dinner: bells called
us to repose and aroused us from our fit
full slumber,
This heightened day is followed by an
equally long night, which brings mental
and moral depression. Men are moping,
testy, imaginative, and appear colorless
as potato sprouts growing in dark cellar.
Even the dogs suffer from the prolanged
~ IL
some bounties of providence. During the
brief summer, the valleys are covered with
grasses and moses. Some flowers Lave
been found as far north as so. OF course
there are no for ests but, as substitute,
quantities of drift-wood, from North
American rivers, are gathered on the coast
scanty in her supply of vegetation, she is
abundant in her supply af fish, fowl, and
beast. The waters abound in salmon,
Goldfish, sturgeon, whales, the walrus and
the seal. The very air is sometimes dark
ened witt ducks, geese and quail But
the rein,,, +, the walrus, the seal, and
the bear &c Of the greatest value to the
Esquimau>. both for food and raiment.-
What TIL cocoanut-palm, that tree of a
hundred u.es, is to the people of the
Indies, and the olive tree is to the inhabi-
tants of Plestine, the reindeer is to the
people Of Greenland. The flesh, the
tongue, &c marrow in the bones are
delicacieS the blood is nourishing
Leverage: The skin not only furnishes cloth
ing impel ious to the cold, but also tents
and bedding; and out Of the horns and
bones are made all necessary household
utensils. When an Esqu:maux catches a
reindeer, he has, on four legs, larder well
filled, a wardrobe we'll supplied, house
we'll furnished.
Next to the deer, the walrus is of most
value to Greenlanders. 1t was on a bright
August day, when for the first time l saw
Il herd of these immense beasts. The
largest was not less than twenty feet long,
and weighed two thousand pounds. The
the tusks long, and the feet resembled
broad tin-like paddles. When on land
their movements are slow and awkward.
but in the water they move with great
rapidity and power. When pursued by the
hunter they display almost human intell
gence. When in winter the walrus comes
out of the water, he breaks up the ice with
an explosive puff which may be heard for
miles. In the meantime the meantime the
hunter is lying on the ice awaiting the
favored moment His instrument of attack
is large harpoon, to which is fastened a
strong line, of many fathoms length, made
of walriis hide. The other end of the line
is attached to rod of bone pointed with
iron to be driven into the ice. The mo-
ment comes. The walrus rises breast
high above the ice, and looks around as if
half suspicious that some foe is nigh. In
an instant the hunter is on his feet, and
the harpoon is buried under the tiipper of
the beast. With desperation the walrus
pluuges beneath the water, and the hunter
drives the iron pointed rod into the solid
ice, which holds the line securely. Find
ing himself fast the wounded beast comes
to the surface again, looks around, observes