various kinds.

The chief festival of the Greenlanders is that which they call the
sun-feast; but this is merely held for the purpose of dancing and other
amusements, and not for any religious acts or ceremonies. It is held
about the commencement of the new-year, and for the purpose of rejoicing
at the return of the sun, and the renewal of weather for hunting and
fishing. At this feast they assemble, in various parts of the country,
and in large parties. After gorging themselves with food, they rise up
to play and to dance. Their only musical instrument is a drum; and the
sound of this they accompany with songs, in honour of seal-catching, and
exploits in hunting. The Greenlanders do not, on these occasions,
intoxicate themselves with ardent spirits, like some of the American
Indians; for their only beverage is water. There are other
dancing-meetings held in the course of the year; but these are all
conducted in a similar manner. The Greenlanders occupy much of their
time in hunting and fishing. On shore they hunt rein-deer and other
animals; and at sea they pursue whales, seals, and walruses: they also
catch great quantities of fish and sea-fowl. Their canoes are formed of
thin boards, fastened together by the sinews of animals, and covered
with a dressed seal-skin, both above and below; so that only a circular
hole is left in the middle, large enough to admit the body of one man.
Into this hole he thrusts himself, up to the waist; after which he
fastens the skin so tight round his body, that no water can enter. Thus
secured, and armed with a paddle, which is broad at both ends, he
ventures out to sea, even in the most stormy weather; and, if he be
unfortunate enough to have his canoe overset, he can easily raise
himself by means of his paddle. Besides this description of canoes, the
Greenlanders have boats so large that they will contain fifty persons,
with all their tackle, baggage, and provisions. These carry a mast and a
triangular sail; the latter of which is made of the membranes and
entrails of seals. The management of the larger boats is always given to
women; who also perform the whole drudgery of the household, even to the
building and repairing of the dwellings.

During winter, the Greenlanders live in houses, and, during the summer,
in tents. The houses are constructed of stones, with layers of earth and
sods between them; and the rafters are covered with bushes and turf. The
entrance is through a hole in