New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-15
THE ARCTIC QUEST.
A GREENLAND TOWN.
sUKKRRToPPEN AND rTs PEoPIs-KAYAKs AND
KAYAKYRs-SRAL HUNTING.

SUKKRRTOPPEN AND rfS PEOPIs-KAYAKs AND
KAYAgERs-SRAL HUNTING.
tFRoM THE SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE]
U.s.S JuNIArA, BoLsrErSBoRG, Greenland July
believing st. Johns, Newfoundland, on the 9th
of tho present month, tho expedition in search of
the PolaIis arrived on tho 17th without especial
adventure at Sukkertoppen. ono Of the small settle
ments of Greenland. whose chief articles of export
are the deerskins aud seal oil sent to Denmark.
Sukkertoppen has population of about 200 Esqui-
maux and dozen Danes, and is presided over by 3
Danish Chief Trader who also reooes in the title of
Governor and deports himself as q Prince. Both
the Governor and his assistant dressed in the
sealskin pantaloOns and boots peculiar to the Green
lander, and the old-tine cloth coat and cap. Upon
our arrival the whole population turned out 10 see
the largest vessel that had entered their mar
Dor. To one ignorant Of their style OF dress anu
the similarity Of the dness of both sexes, IL "ouiu
be difficult to distinguish the man from tue "ohan'
The man combs his hair straight down ana over MS
forehead, only parting IL sufficiently 10 ehaOle MN
to see directly ahead Of him, WHO Ine "oiu"n
combs her hair in long plalt' loInlne H'~
knot ON ton Of the head which is elevated about
four inches from the scalp. and tled Win s'Ip VI
ribbon either of black blue or red oolef-the WIDOW
being distinguished by black ribbon the whe by
the blue and the maiden by the red one Tue com
nlexion is coppery like that of the Indian, their ha
black and their nat, while their cheek bones
arc broad and prominent nearly hiding the nasal
annendaee when the profile is presented. The ka-
netah. or Jumper with hood attachment, worn by
both sexes. the hood of the womans being made
larger in which to carry the young babe is of seal
skin with trimmings Of dogskin. The pantaloons
and boots are also worn by both sexes those Of the
women being in most cases very deliberately and ar
tistically trimmed The pantaloons of the women
reach only to the knee, while the boots made OF
finely tanned sealskin, nicely crimped and sewed
with the sinews Of the deer make them look COM
Portable.
ADVENTUROUS NAVIGATION.
While the women and children oongregated upon
the hillside the men, who are mostly hunters, came
of in their kayaks, the frailest specimen OF naval
architecture ever put together Hosting one OF
these fellows on board, afforded me an opportunity
of giving his kayak a close inspection. We found 1t
a greater novelty than we anticipated 1t was 10
feet long from stem to stern. l6 inches wide at Its
greatest beam, and 10 inches deep, taperng to q
point at both ends. with gentle upward curve.
The skeleton of the boat smade of the lightes wood,
il covered with sealskin from which the fur
has been removed, and which has been so nicely
tanned that it is quite transparent. The skeleton is
made by the men, and consists of three longitudinal
strips of wood on each side stretching from end to
end and shielded at each end along the line of the
eutwater for length of about three feet. by strips
of bone in order to give it greater strength in re-
sisting the effects of the These surrounded
by strips of wood placed about foot apart. and
strongly fastened to the longitudinal strips by the
tendons of the reindeer. The sealskin covering is
put on by the women, who sew the pieces together
with fine bent-pointed needle, threaded with the
sinew of the reindeer and they do it with dexteri-
ty and strength that is really astonishing The
seams are afterwards coated with a gummy sub
stance, so that no water can find its way through
them, the skin itself being perfectly water-tght
EXPERT BoATMEN.
There being no keel to the KAYAK, and it's bottom
nearly fat its occupant would seem TO make
il pheavy but with the practice and nerve of the
kayaker, he does not hesitate to brave middling
heavy sea- riding over the waves gracefully as q
duck Armed with his rife harpoon, and bird spear,
all of which he very adrotly nses, he shoulders his
kayak. carries it to the beach, and launches it.
There is no opening in it except round hole mid
way between each end, just large enough to admit
the boatman as far as his hips. Surrounding this
midship hole is a wooden rim, with groove around
the outside near the sealskin covering, over
which the hunter laces the lower edge
of his watertight jacket, and thus fastens
himself in and keeps the water ont. He then
Qrasps his two-bladed DER in the middle, propels
himself along by dipping 1t in the water on each
side alternately and off he darts at very astonish-
ing rate of speed, until he reaches his hunting
ground When he sights a seal. and gets within
thirty yards of him, ne throws the harpoon. and
seldom misses bis mark AS soon as the seal is hit,
it starts of to escape. The staff is then detached
from the dart to which is attached strand of raw
hide fastened at the other end to buoy or float
carried on the deck of the kayak, ready to cast off
when the line has been all run out. but kept sight of
by the kayaker who soon exhausts the strength of
his victim. and then captures him.
The Esquimaux of SukkertOppen are rather cleanly
looking and are neat in their dress. We visited
of their native dances, and quite enjoyed it, thus
hevng the monOtony of life ON shipbOard. We left
Sukkertoppen the next day, and came to Hostein-
borg distance Of 30 miles from Sukkertoppen. The
people here with the exception that they are
dirter are much the as those of our last port
We have purchased IS sledge dogs and several seal
skins TO be made up into clothing for use in the
search expedition. We leave for Godhayn, or Disco,
as soon as the fog breaks away.