The “Fox” sailed from Reikiavik on the 31st August, for Greenland. On
the 2nd of October we reached Frederickshaab.
There is a Danish superintendent, a clergyman, and several clerks
at this place, and about two hundred Esquimaux. These Esquimaux
are civilised;--sober, honest, and faithful, apt and willing to be
instructed; attentive to their religious observances, and thankful for
kindness. The evening amusement was dancing. The principal food of the
natives is fish, seal, whale, a few ptarmigan, waterfowl, including
eider duck, with biscuit and coffee, imported from Denmark. Large
quantities of a small fish (the kepling), called by the Esquimaux
“amaset,” are caught in scoop nets in the summer, and dried on the
rocks. These are laid up for winter food, and sometimes given to the
cattle.
After lying here eighteen days, the “Fox” sailed on the 20th of October
for Julianshaab, at which place she anchored on the evening of the 22d.
Julianshaab is one of the principal stations on the coast.
On the 24th I learnt that it had been decided to sound and examine the
Fiord of Igalikko, which ran by Julianshaab. During the time that the
“Fox” would be employed on this service, which I was told by Captain
Young might probably occupy four days, I thought with Colonel Shaffner
that a short journey should be made to the interior of the country,
for the purpose of ascertaining the practicability of travelling
over it. The use of one seaman and a whale-boat were obtained from
Captain Young, to enable us to return from the head of the fiord to
Julianshaab. Four Esquimaux women were engaged as rowers. At sixteen
miles inland from the fiord a heavy fall of snow stopped further
travel. After an absence of four days, we returned to our boat, but
found that the fall of snow, followed by unusually cold weather, had
already caused the fiord to freeze up for many miles. We had enough of
provisions, and were supplied with some excellent fresh mutton, milk,
and butter, by an Esquimaux that lived in the neighbourhood, to whose
house we removed. The frost continued for several days with unusual
severity, and made the ice strong enough to enable Captain Young (after
coming half-way up the fiord in a boat) to travel over the ice with a
sledge party from the “Fox,” to our relief. Another party of men, sent
by Superintendent Möller from Julianshaab to aid us arrived at the same
time. We all returned next day (the 6th) to the “Fox.”
At Julianshaab, as at Frederickshaab, nothing could exceed the kindness
and hospitality of the resident Danish gentlemen. Mr. Möller, the
Superintendent, Mr. Höyer, his Assistant, the Doctor, and others vied
with each other in paying us attention.
The chief exports of the place are whale and seal oil, fox skins (blue
and white), bear skins, and eider down. A few cattle, goats and sheep
are kept. The hay is usually collected at the summer encamping places
of the natives, and must be very nutritious, as I was informed that one
small cow during the past summer, had not only yielded sufficient milk
and cream to supply the family, but also to make eighty Danish pounds
of butter. The natives here, as at Frederickshaab, are honest, docile,
and well conducted, doing great credit to the Danish Government. The
prevailing form of worship is the Lutheran.
The result of this expedition, as far as regards the land portion of
it over the Færöe Isles and Iceland, was extremely favourable to the
practicability of laying down or erecting a telegraphic wire. The
question in Iceland will be, whether the telegraph should be carried
across the whole island from Berufiord to Faxe Bay, or only from
Portland Bay to the latter place. The latter will reduce the distance
on land from about 250 to 90 miles.
THE FIORDS OF SOUTH GREENLAND, AS TO THEIR DEPTH, MUD BOTTOMS, &C.; BY
J. W. TAYLER, ESQ., F.G.S., LATE A RESIDENT AND MINERALOGIST IN SOUTH
GREENLAND.
The LORD ASHBURTON: I will now call upon Mr. J. W. Tayler to read his
paper.