A Description of Greenland/Chapter 15
CHAP. XV.
The Greenlanders have several Kinds of Sports and Recreations, with which they pass their Time, when they have no-
thing else to do, or when they visit one another: Of which these are the most remarkable. Their Assemblies of Revelling and Diversions.When they meet together for Diversion's Sake; the first Step made is always Banqueting and Revelling, where they stuff their Guts with all the dainty Bits and the best Cheer the Country affords; as Rain-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,In which they beat the 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 make the most odd and comical Gestures, and play the most ridiculous Tricks with his Face, Head and Limbs, turning them awry, passes for the most ingenious Fellow; as he by his aukward and out of the way Postures can make others laugh.
They compose Satyrical Ditties upon one another, which they sing in their Assemblies.They shew their Wit chiefly in Satyrical 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 Champion or Challenger begins, and when he has done the Challenged takes up the Cudgel and sings next.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 Rhime in them. For an Instance of which I join hereto a Greenland Song,Model of a Greenland Song. or Ode, composed by one of the Natives, who formerly lived in our Colony, by Name Friderick Christian, upon the Birth-Day of his then Royal Highness, Prince Christian, on the 30th of November, 1729, and is as follows.
They have, besides this, another sort of Diversion, accompanied with Singing, which consists in Swooping or Bartering. Another Diversion, which consists in Swopping, or Buying and Selling.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 shews 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 Play like that, in French, call'd Bilboquet, and in English, Catch me if you can.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, The Catch-Play of the young Lads.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. A Game of Chance, like Cards or Dice.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 of two sorts.Ball-playing is their most common Diversion, which they play two different ways. They divide themselves into two Parties; he 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 gets the first to the Barrier, has won the Match. Thus (they'll tell you) the Deceased play at Foot-ball in Heaven,They fancy that the Souls of the Deceased play 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.
Exercises of the grown Men, in trying their Strength by Wrestling.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'll 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 Girls Diversion.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.
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