American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1872-01-06
A Greenland Parliament.

In is pleasant to contemplate the
change which has come over the Esqui
mauX of Greenland since the Christian
missionaries first came among them. AT
the time when they overcame the North.
men, and occupied the country which a
hardy Christian people had for Il long time
possessed in peace, they led purely no.
madic life, and dressed solely in the skins
of wild beasts Now they live in perma-
nent communities, and have adopted the
habits, and, in some measure, the custom
of civilized men. Unlike many savage
peoples, the introduction of the forms of
civilization among them has not been at
tended with the usual corresponding mis-
chief-a circumstance due, in great
measure, if not wholly, to the patelnal
care Of the Danish Government, which,
beginning with the first missionary, Hans
Egede, in 1721, has been continued with
much skill by his successors, and by none
more conspCuously than Dr. Henry Rink,
who has passed a considerable portion of
his time in Greenland, and was, until
lately, Royal Inspector for the southern
districts
The principal feature of Df. Kinks ad-
minigtration is the Parliament of natives,
and in the establishment Of this arrange
mcnt its author has earned as much credit
for skilled benevolence as he had before
acquired for scientific explorations.
The idea of an EsquimauX Parliament
struck me as something ludicrous when |
first heard of it, but upon gaining an init
mate acquaintance with its workings, |
changed my mind, and became convinced
that other Parlimnenls might initiate them
WIN adyah,agc'
H1cll il'lle town OF AohtlhS Sta'loh OF
inc uistrlct Is aI hoerty 10 Schd up Il
reP[eSehta'lVc 10 seat III tle farliameht
AT 'ullahashaao, 'lle number OF represent
a'lFcS polhs tWclEe' me most llllpor-
tdiit towns, peSluG the capltal are Nenor-
taIlk, fIeGerlcksdal, Llchtehatl, lgalllko,
dnn AMUSEMENT.
nc tarll3meht was IN session during
out a'al, anu l. NlSlteu 1t as pllNlie6eu
EueSt lof DC 1t known the JullahaSiaab
sits with closed doors The
l armament house Is hoI an imposing
'|iuCc' eiOt'lu say It's ullllchSioiS are
ABOUT 9iAteeh ny twenty ieet' 1T Is one
Slo.} h!Sn' - puliC o! rough po"lus, lintu
ol '.it iilSiuc anu l,allteu ol!lC' anu on tlie
ou'slu. Is plast req over WIN l,ltCh' IL
'laS no loopy lor lhe acconi'iouaIloh Oh
peol'c "Ho COME 10 tiic capl'al WIN aAcS
lor Vue puoic grlndstone' ana no commit
icGIoollS lor 'lle pelter confusion OF the
puoHc business
III III. i'!u'lt Oh ,he one room, OF hail'
''oou pam pine lable, with pam
'cllcil Oh eillol sue Vi 1t. anu on each
lencIl siV SiA farIlamehtallahS, dressed III
'o'l Shili laht'ioolis anu ooots' ana Huerh-
'cF IrOckS, across winch there was Il very /
arg ulSPlay ol Suspehders. Each Par- /
IaIhthCarli'h head was covered with acap /
'olhposed OF tlle brightest KIND or scarlet .
,ioIii, ri ollalhehteu WIN proad gilt paha' .
! lC royai enolchS were emprolIere4 IN
ROM, ana ABOVE thcSe mere was golden
'eal, WIN crown on MS lead, standing
'hcohil on MS hlhd legs, 10 typlly |
IrGehiand; inere was thirteenth cap .
IL tile head OF the taDle, ana TINS was worn
y NJ Anlhoh, pastor OF JullanaShaaD,
hu freSiaeht OF Juliahashaab Farllament,
F,Ggfc90' .....
ne aggregate amount OF dignity pos,
essed by thls farllament was wonderful
sec 10 nc sure the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
we're somewhat lmpregnated with tlshy
roma, lndlcatlVe OF thelr hatlonallty and
allnS pul heltneI tne Hshy aroma nor
he dignity appeared TO interfere with Its
transaction Oh business Oh tne contrary,
hey seemed 10 DC working IKE beavers
M, indeed, they disposed OF the matters
rought before them with such an amaz-
ng degree OF prompineSs that l telI to
wondering whether dignity would not be
good thing to introduce In Parllameinlis,
congresses, assemblies, and such Ike
A =