cularly in the spring of
the year; and is often so bright and vivid, as to afford sufficient
light for a person to read by it.

Some of the southern parts of Greenland are fertile; but, in general,
the soil resembles that of other mountainous countries; the hills being
barren, and the valleys and low grounds being rich and fruitful. The
principal quadrupeds of this country are rein-deer, dogs resembling
wolves, Arctic foxes, and white or polar bears. The walrus and several
kinds of seals frequent the shores. Eagles and other birds of prey are
numerous. Whales and porpesses abound along the coasts; and the
adjacent sea and bays yield an abundance of holibut, turbot, cod,
haddocks, and other fish.

The inhabitants of Greenland are supposed to have had their origin from
the Esquimaux of Labrador, for they nearly resemble that people. They
are short, and somewhat corpulent; and have broad faces, flat noses,
thick lips, black hair, and a yellowish tawny complexion. The keenness
of the wind and the glare of the snow, render them subject to painful
disorders in the eyes: they are also afflicted with many diseases, which
tend to render them short lived. They are a quiet, orderly, and
good-humoured people; but of a cold, phlegmatic, and indolent
disposition. They never wash themselves with water, but lick their
hands, and then rub their faces with them; in the same manner as a cat
washes herself with her paws. In most of their habits they are extremely
filthy.

When animal food can be procured, they prefer it to any other; but, in
times of scarcity, they are sometimes compelled to subsist on sea-weeds,
and on roots dressed in train-oil and fat. The intestines of animals,
and offals of various kinds, are accounted by them as dainties.

Their clothes are chiefly made of the skins of rein-deer and seals. The
men wear their hair short; and commonly hanging down from the crown of
the head on every side. The women, on the contrary, seldom cut their
hair.

The Greenlanders all speak the same language, though different dialects
prevail in different parts of the country; and so numerous are the words
of their language, that, like the Chinese, they are said to have a
proper word for every object or art that requires distinction.

These people have no traditions respecting the memorable actions of
their ancestors; further than that, many winters ago, some Norwegian
settlers were slain by the population of the adjacent country, who