sea weed, and a kind of root, which they call tugloronet, both dressed
with fat or train oil; the dung of the rein deer, taken out of the guts,
when they cleanse them; the entrails of partridges, and the like
out-cast, pass for dainties with them. They make likewise pancakes of
what they scrape off the inside of seal skins, when they dress them. In
the summer they boil their meat with wood, which they gather in the
field, and in winter time over their lamps in little kettles of an oval
figure, made of brass, copper, or marble, which they make themselves.
To kindle the fire, when extinguished, they make use of this expedient,
which shows their ingenuity: they take a short block of dry fir tree,
upon which they rub another piece of hard wood, till, by the continued
motion, the fir catches fire. When we first came among them, they did
not like to taste any of our victuals, but now they are glad to get some
of it, especially bread and butter, which they like mightily, but they
do not much care for our liquors; yet notwithstanding, some of them, who
have lived some time among us, have learnt to drink wine and brandy, and
never refuse it, when it is offered them. But as for tobacco, they do
not at all like it, nor can they bear the smell or smoke of it.
CHAP. XIII.
_Of their Marriages, and Education of their Children._
The most detestable crime of polygamy, which reigns so much among the
Heathens, the Greenlanders are not so much addicted to; for commonly
they are contented with one wife. There are some, but very few, that
keep two, three, or four wives: but these pass for heroes or more than
ordinary men, in that, by their industry, they are able to subsist so
many wives and children. And what is remarkable, before our arrival,
there was never heard of such a thing as jealousy among those wives, but
they agreed very well together, though the first wife was reckoned the
mistress. Since our arrival, as we have informed them of the word and
will of God, importing, that in the beginning the All-wise Creator made
one man and one woman, to live in matrimony as husband and wife, there
has been some resentment in the wives, when their husbands have had a
mind to take any other besides them; they have addressed themselves to
me, and desired me to put a stop to such a proceeding. Also when I have
instructed them in their catechism and the Christian doctrine, they have
always put me in mind, not to forget fully to instruct their husbands in
the duties of the seventh commandment.
Some time passed before we could learn how the men behaved themselves
with regard to other men’s wives, or the women _vice versa_, till at
last we perceived them not to be over scrupulous in this matter, of
which we were more fully convinced, by hearing of a certain illegal game
used among them; which is this. A number of married men and women meet
together at an assembly; where, after they have taken their fill of
feasting and revelling, they begin singing and dancing, according to
their own way; and in the mean while one after another take a trip with
each other’s wife, behind a curtain or hangings made of skins at one end
of the house, where their beds are placed, and there divert themselves.
Those are reputed the best and noblest tempered, who, without any pain
or reluctancy, will lend their friends their wives.
But, as I observed above, none but married people frequent these sort of
games, which, they imagine, is not unbecoming. Especially the women
think themselves happy, if an angekkok, or prophet, will honour them
with his caresses: there are even some men so generous, that they will
pay the angekkok for it; chiefly if they themselves have no children;
for they fancy that an angekkok’s child will be more happy and better
qualified for business than others.
Maidens, on the contrary, and unmarried women, observe much better the
rules of modesty and continency; for I never saw any of them entertain
any loose or slippery conversation with young men; or show the least
inclination to it either in words or deeds. During fifteen full years
that I lived in Greenland, I did not hear of more than two or three
young unmarried women, who had been guilty of incontinence; because it
is reckoned the greatest of infamies. It is remarkable, that natural
decency is observed by them; for they refrain from marrying their next
relations, even in the third degree, taking such matches to be
unwarrantable and quite unnatural. It is likewise reckoned uncouth and
blameable, if a lad and a girl, that have served and been educated in
one family, should desire to be married together; for they look upon
them as brother and sister.
The ceremonies they use in their marriages and weddings are as
follow:--When a young man likes a maiden, he commonly proposes it to
their parents and relations on both sides; and after he has obtained
their consent, he gets two or more old women to fetch the bride (and if
he is a stout fellow, he will fetch her himself). They go to the place
where the young woman is, and carry her away by force; for though she
ever so much approves of the match, yet out of modesty she must make as
if it went against the grain, and as if she was much ruffled at it; else
she will be blamed and get an ill name, as if she had been a love-sick
wench. After she is brought to the house of the bridegroom, she keeps
for some time at a distance, and sits retired in some corner, upon the
bench, with her hair dishevelled, and covering her face, being bashful
and ashamed. In the mean while the bridegroom uses all the rhetorick he
is master of, and spares no caresses to bring her to a compliance with
his ardent wishes; and the good girl being at length persuaded and
prevailed with, yields kindly to his ravishing embraces; and then they
lie down together, and so the wedding is over. But sometimes they take a
shorter way to go to work, which is to gratify their inclinations
without the advice or consent of the parents[34]. Nevertheless their
matrimony is not of so indissoluble a nature but that the husbands often
repudiate and put away their wives, if either they do not suit their
humours, or else, if they are barren and do not bring forth children
(which they hold to be very ignominious), and marry others. But if they
have children by them, they bear a great deal with them, and keep them
for life. It is not rare to see that a man beats his wife, and gives her
black eyes, for her obstinacy and stubbornness sake; however they are
soon reconciled and good friends again, without bearing any grudge. For,
according to them, it signifies nothing, that a man beats his wife; but
they do not like that a master should drub a servant maid. Likewise they
think it heinous that a mother chastises her children; and if she falls
foul of her maid, it is with them unpardonable; and such a woman gets an
ill name.
If one of the party dies, the relict, whether husband or wife, is at
liberty to marry again.
The women are of a very hardy and strong nature, which they chiefly show
in their child-bearing; for as soon as it is over, they will go to work
and do their ordinary business as usual. But sometimes they pay very
dear for this bravery, it costing them their lives. The day after their
delivery they go abroad to work, being girt with a waist belt two or
three inches broad, which they also wore before their delivery. As soon
as the child is born, the mother dips her finger into water, and rubs
the child’s lips with it; or she puts a little bit of snow into its
mouth, saying, “Imekautit,” which signifies, Thou hast drunk a good
deal; and when she eats, she takes a bit of fish, and holds it to the
child’s mouth, and shakes her hand, with this word, “Aiparpotit,” that
is to say, Thou hast eat and kept me company. They cut the navel-string,
not with a knife, but with a muscle shell, or they bite it off with
their teeth; and when the string is dry they use it as an amulet.
They hold a chamber pot over the head of the woman in labour, imagining
that it helps to hasten her delivery. The child being a year old, the
mother slabbers and licks it all over, from head to foot, that it may
grow hale and strong. They seldom bear twins, but monsters are often
brought forth. In the year 1737 a woman, in the Bay of Disco, was
delivered of a hideous monster; the eyes were placed on the side of the
nose: it had a pointed snout and no ears. Instead of hands and feet it
had paws, and very thick thighs. Its front was covered with hair like
those of a rein deer, and the sides were covered with something like a
white skin of a fish. In the same place another monstrous birth was seen
in the year 1739, without a head, four-footed, with long nails, like
claws; it had a mouth upon the breast, and claws upon the back.
They have a very tender love for their children, and the mother always
carries her infant child about with her upon her back, wrapped up in her
coat wherever she goes, or whatever business she has in hand, for they
have no other cradles for them. They suckle them till they are three or
four years old or more; because in their tender infancy they cannot
digest the strong victuals that the rest must live upon.
The education of their children is what they seem little concerned
about; for they never make use of whipping or hard words to correct
them, when they do any thing amiss, but leave them to their own
discretion. Notwithstanding which, when they are grown, they never seem
inclined to vice or roguery, which is to be admired. It is true, they
show no great respect to their parents in their outward forms, but
always are very willing to do what they order them; though sometimes
they will bid their parents do it themselves. They are under the care of
their parents, boys as well as girls, till they are married; afterwards
they shift for themselves, yet so, that they continue to dwell in the
same house, or under the same roof with their fathers, together with
other kindred and relations; and what they get, they all enjoy in
common.
CHAP. XIV.
_How the Greenlanders mourn and bury their dead Friends._
When any person dies, they take what belongs to him, as house-furniture,
utensils, and clothing, and throw it all out into the field, that by
touching of them they may not become unclean, or any misfortune befal
them on that account: and all that live in the same house are obliged to
carry out any thing of their goods that is new and has not been used;
but in the evening they bring them all back again, for then they say the
stench of the dead body is quite dissipated. Then they begin to lament
and mourn for their dead friend, with tears and ghastly howlings, which
they continue for an hour, and then the nearest relations take the body
and carry it to the grave, made up of stones thrown together in a heap,
under which they bury him dressed in his best clothes, and well wrapt up
in skins of rein deer or seals, with his legs bent under his back. Near
the burying place they lay his utensils, _viz._ his boat, bows, arrows,
and the like; and if it be a woman, her needles, thimbles, and the like;
not that they believe they stand in need of those things, when they are
come to the land of souls, or in the other world, whither they are
retired, but for the aversion they have for those things: lest by
refreshing the memory of the deceased, they might renew their grief and
sorrow for his loss; for if they should bewail him and weep too much,
they think he will endure the more cold where he is.
They think themselves unclean if they touch any thing belonging to the
deceased; as likewise he that has carried him to the grave, and buried
him, is reckoned unclean for some time, and dares not do certain things:
nay, not only the kindred and relations of the deceased, but likewise
every one that has lived in the same house with him, are obliged to
abstain from certain victuals and work, for a while, according to the
direction of the _angekkuts_ or divines.
The women never wash themselves during their mourning time, nor appear
well dressed, or with braided and tied up hair, but dishevelled, and
hanging about the face. They must put on their hood as often as they go
out of doors, which is not customary at other times: but they believe
they otherwise should soon die.
They bewail their dead long enough: for, as often as any of their
friends and acquaintance come from other places to see them, the first
thing they do is to sit down in great sadness, and weep and bemoan the
loss of their deceased friend: after which they are comforted with good
cheer. But if the deceased has left no friend or relation behind him, he
may lie long enough where he died, whether at home or abroad before any
body comes and buries him. If a person dies in the house, his body must
not be carried through the ordinary entry of it, but conveyed out at
the window; and if he dies in a tent, he is brought out at the back part
of it. At the funeral a woman lights a stick in the fire, brandishing
the same and saying _piklerrukpok_, that is, Here is no more to be got.
When little children die and are buried, they put the head of a dog near
the grave, fancying, that children having no understanding, they cannot
by themselves find the way, but the dog must guide them to the land of
the souls.
CHAP. XV.
[Illustration]
_Their Pastimes and Diversions, as also their Poetry._
The Greenlanders have several kinds of sports and recreations, with
which they pass their time, when they have nothing else to do, or when
they visit one another: of which these are the most remarkable. When
they meet together for diversion’s sake, the first step made is always
banqueting and revelling, where they stuff themselves with all the
dainty bits and the best cheer the country affords; as rein deer and
seal flesh dried or boiled; and the tail of a whale, which they reckon
among the greatest delicacies. Of these things they eat very greedily;
for it is a great honour done to the landlord who treats, that his
guests, when come home, complain that their belly was too small, and
that it was ready to burst.
After the repast, they get up to divert themselves in this manner: one
of the company takes a drum, which is made of a broad wooden hoop, or of
the rib of a whale, covered with a thin skin, with a handle to it; which
drum he beats with a stick, singing at the same time songs, either
concerning the common affairs in general, or his own private ones in
particular. In which, at the end of each verse, the whole chorus of men
and women join with him.
He that can play the most odd and comical gestures, and play the most
ridiculous tricks with his face, head, and limb, turning them awry,
passes for the most ingenious fellow; as he by his awkward and out of
the way postures can make others laugh.
They show their wit chiefly in satirical songs, which they compose
against one another; and he, that overcomes his fellow in this way of
debate, is admired and applauded by the rest of the assembly. If any
body conceives a jealousy, or bears a grudge to another upon any
account, he sends to him, and challenges him to a duel in such or such
assembly; where he will fight it out with him in taunting ditties.
Whereupon the defied, in defence of his honour, prepares his weapons,
and does not fail to appear at the time and place appointed, if his
courage do not forsake him. When the assembly is met, and the combatants
arrived, every body being silent and attentive to hear what end the
combat will take, the challenger first enters the lists, and begins to
sing, accompanying it with the beat of his drum. The challenged rises
also, and in silence listens, until his champion or adversary has done
singing. Then he likewise enters the lists, armed with the same weapons,
and lays about his party the best he can. And thus they alternately sing
as long as their stock of ditties lasts. He that first gives over, is
reckoned overcome and conquered. In this sort of taunting ditties they
reproach and upbraid one another with their failings. And this is their
common way of taking vengeance.
There is not to be expected great ingenuity or sallies and points of wit
in their poesies, yet there is some cadence and number in their verses,
and some kind of rhyme in them. For an instance of which I join hereto a
Greenland song, or ode, composed by one of the natives, who formerly
lived in our colony, by name Frederick Christian, upon the birth day of
his then royal highness, Prince Christian, on the 30th of November,
1729, which is as follows.
A
GREENLAND SONG,
COMPOSED
BY FREDERICK CHRISTIAN,
A Native.
Amna aja aja, aja aja, &c. [Entry.
_One morning as I went out, and saw,
That flags and colours were flying,
And that they made ready
To fire the guns;
Then I demanded,
Why do you fire?
And they answered me, because the King’s Son’s
Birth day was celebrated,
Who is to be king after his father,_
Annigamma irsigeik, amna aja aja, &c.
Arvallirsullitlarmeta: amna aja, &c.
Opellungarsullarmeta, amna aja, &c.
Erkaiseigamig og, amna aja aja, &c.
Tava orkarbigeik, amna aja aja, &c.
Saag erkaisovise? Amna aja, &c.
Tava akkyanga, assuog Nellermago,
Okuine annivine nellermago, amna aja, &c.
Angune tokkopet kongingoromagame, amna aja, &c.
_And succeed in the kingdom.
Thereupon I said to my friend,
Let us make a song
To the King’s Son;
For he shall be made king.
This my little song shall praise him:
’Tis said, he is a brave prince,
Let us therefore rejoice;
For he shall be our king,
After his Father’s death,
We rejoice also, because
He loves us as his Father does;
Who sent over clergymen to us,
To teach us the word of God;
Lest we should go to the Devil.
Be thou like him, so shall we love thee,_
Kingoreis semmane; amna aja, &c.
Tava ikkinguntiga; amna aja aja, &c.
Pitsimik sennegiluk; amna aja, &c.
Kongib imna niamganut, amna aja, &c.
Kongingoromamet; amna aja aja, &c.
Pisingvoara una; amna aja aja, &c.
Ostantigirfaræt sillakartok unnertlugo, amna aja, &c.
Tipeitsutigeik: amna aja aja, aja aja.
Kongingoromamet; amna aja aja, aja, &c.
Angune-oy tokkoppet: amna aja aja, &c.
Tipeitsokigogut: amna aja aja, aja, &c.
Attatatut asseigalloäpatit: amna aja, &c.
Pellesille tamaunga innekaukit: amna aja, &c.
Gudimik ajokarsokullugit: amna aja, &c.
Torngarsungmut makko inneille pekonnagit: amna aja, &c.
Iblile tameitit neglitsomapaukit,
_And cherish thee,
And be thy servants.
Our ancestors have also been thy servants,
Even they.
That thou hast thought on us,
This we know very well, O gracious Son of the King.
We hope thou wilt continue so to do,
The King thy father has before possessed us,
When thou shalt be our King thou’lt prove good enough.
Whatever we possess
Shall be thine altogether.
When Greenland shall have received instruction,
Then shall they love God and honour the King.
Let us be merry,
And of the King’s Son
Drink the health. And say, Long live Christian!_
Asseigomarpaukit: amna aja aja, &c.
Kivgakomarpautigut: amna aja aja, &c.
Siurlit karalit kivgarimiaukit,
Juko: amna aja aja, aja aja, &c.
Isumatigautigut: amna aja aja, &c.
Nellungikallorapagut, Kongib Niarnga ajungitsotit,
Teimatoy isumariotit: amna aja aja, &c.
Kongib Angutit pekaramisigut,
Iblile Kongingoruit namaksimotit: amna aja, &c.
Tomasa pirsaugut: amna aja aja, &c.
Piarmapotit makko: amna aja, &c.
Karalit illerpeta: amna aja, &c.
Gud negligomaparput, Kongible nalleklugo: amna aja aja, &c.
Tecpeitsukigisa: amna aja aja, aja, &c.
Kongiblo Niarnga: amna aja aja, &c.
Skaalia immerlugo: amna aja aja, &c.
Tave okarpogut, Christian innuvit: amna aja, &c.
_And thy Consort.
May thy years be many!
(This I wish) Frederick Christian, and my friend
Peter, who were the first baptized of Greenland.
Would to God our countrymen were also._
Nulliello: amna aja aja, aja aja, &c.
Okiutikit armarlesorsuangorlutik: amna aja, &c.
Friderik Christian ikingutigalo; amna, &c.
Peder, karalinit kockkartoguk: amna, &c.
Kannoktok! Ekkarlivut tamakilit makko: amna aja, &c.
Amna, aja aja, aja aja, aja aja, hei!
They have, besides this, another sort of diversion, accompanied with
singing, which consists in swopping or bartering. He that performs the
office of drummer and singer, exposes one thing or other to sale, at any
rate he thinks fit; if any of the company has a liking to it, he shows
his consent by giving the seller a slap on his breech, and the bargain
is done, and cannot be retrieved, whether good or bad. The boys and lads
have also their pastimes and plays, when they meet in the evening. They
take a small piece of wood, with a hole in it at one end, to that they
tie a little pointed stick with a thread or string, and throwing the
piece with the hole in it up into the air, they strive to catch it upon
the pointed stick, through the hole. He that does it twenty times
successively, and without failing, gains the match, or party, and he
that misses gets a black stroke on his forehead for every time he
misses. Another boy’s play is a game of chance, like cards or dice; they
have a piece of wood pointed at one end, with a pin or peg in the midst,
upon which it turns; when the boys are seated around, and every one laid
down what they play for, one of them turns the pointed piece of wood
with his finger, that it wheels about like a mariner’s compass; and when
it has done, he that the point aims at, wins all that was laid down.
Ball playing is their most common diversion, which they play two
different ways. They divide themselves into two parties; the first party
throws the ball to each other; while those of the second party endeavour
to get it from them, and so by turns. The second manner is like our
playing at foot ball. They mark out two barriers, at three or four
hundred paces distance one from the other; then being divided into two
parties, as before, they meet at the starting place, which is at the
midway between the two barriers; and the ball being thrown upon the
ground, they strive who first shall, get at it, and kick it with the
foot, each party towards their barrier. He that is the most nimble
footed and dextrous at it, kicking the ball before him, and getting the
first to the barrier, has won the match.
Thus (they will tell you) the deceased play at foot ball in Heaven, with
the head of a morse, when it lightens, or the North-light (aurora
borealis) appears, which they fancy to be the souls of the deceased.
When their acquaintance from abroad come to see them, they spend whole
days and nights in singing and dancing; and as they love to pass for men
of courage and valour, they will try forces together, in wrestling,
struggling, and playing hook and crook, which is to grapple with the
arms and fingers made crooked, and intangled like hooks. Whoever can
pull the other from his place, thinks himself a man of worth and valour.
The women’s or rather the maiden’s plays, consist in dancing around,
holding one another by the hand, forming a circle, and singing of
songs.
CHAP. XVI.
_Of their Language._
Though the Greenland language has not affinity with other European
tongues, yet it seems to have borrowed some words from the Norwegians,
who formerly inhabited part of the land; for such words agree both in
name and signification; as, for example, _Kona_, a Woman; _Nerriok_, to
eat, from the Norway word _Noerrie_. The herb _Angelica_, which they in
Norway call _Quaun_, the Greenlanders call _Qvaunnek_. A Porpoise, in
Norway called _Nise_, they call _Nise_. Ashes, in Norway, _Aske_, in
Greenland, _Arkset_. A Lamp, in the Norwegian, _Kolle_, in the
Greenlandian, _Kollek_. Some of their words resemble Latin words of the
same signification; as, _Gutta_, a drop; in the Greenland tongue,
_Gutte_, or _Kutte_. _Ignis_, Fire, they call _Ingnek_. And some they
have got from Hebrew roots, as, _Appa_, a word the children use to name
their father, and some others.