A Description of Greenland/Chapter 2
CHAP. II.
'TIS undoubted, that the Ancients, not so much driven by any Necessity or Compulsion, as led by a natural and inbred Curiosity are fallen upon many strange Ventures; as for instance, to discover and settle Colonies in so many formerly quite unknown and uninhabited Countries; to whose Discovery what particular Accidents have most contributed, we learn by the several Histories and Descriptions thereof. For the Almighty and good God, who has not in vain created the vast Globe of the Earth, has also not intended, that any Part or Province of it should lie buried in eternal Oblivion, useless to Mankind. And that Greenland by such means has been discovered and inhabited by our old Norwegians and Icelanders, we are fully informed of, by the Annals of Iceland; where we read, that the brave and valiant Erick Raude first discovers Greenland, and settles there 983.Erick Raude (or Red) who was the first Discoverer of this Country, after he in Company with several other Icelanders, in the Year of our Lord 982. by meer Casuality fell in with the Land, and had taken a Survey of its present State, he returned to Iceland the next Year 983; spoke much in Commendation of the Land, calling it the Greenland, by which he persuaded many of his Countrymen to follow him thither, in order to find out Places fit for dwelling, and to settle there[1]. They no sooner were arrived and settled here, but they found God was come along with them; I mean the saving Knowledge of his most holy Word.The Christian Religion planted in Greenland. For the said Erick Raude his Son, called Leif, after he had been instructed in the Gospel Truths by King Olaf (who was the first Christian King of Norway) brought along with him from Norway to Greenland a Priest, who taught and christened all the Inhabitants of the Country. Thus this Country has first been settled by Norway and Iceland Colonies, which in after-times have increased and been provided with many Churches and Convents, Bishops and Teachers; which lasted as long as the Correspondence and Navigation continued between them and Norway, Flourished till the Year 1405.until the Year 1406, when the last Bishop was sent over to Greenland. Yet the Norwegians were not the original Natives of the Land; for, not long after their Arrival, There were Natives living in the Country before the Norwegians.they met with the old Inhabitants, a savage People dwelling on the Western Shore, originally descended from the Americans; as may with great Probability be gathered from the Agreement of their Persons, Customs and Habits with those who dwell to the North of Hudson's Bay; as likewise while those, that inhabited the Northern Parts (now going by the Name of Davis's Straits) advanced nearer and nearer to the South, and often made War upon the Norwegians. Concerning the Cause of the Ruin and total Destruction of that so well established Norwegian Colony, there is nothing found upon Record; Causes why all Correspondence and Navigation ceased between Norway and Greenland.the Reason of which I think to be, that after all Correspondence and Navigation ceased between Greenland and Norway, partly by the Change and Translation of the Government in Queen Margaret's Reign; and partly by the next following continual Wars between the Danes and Swedes, which caused the Navigation to those Parts to be laid aside, and chiefly by the great Difficulty and innumerable Dangers of such Navigation, which several Causes cut off all Intelligences, that might be had of that Country's State, as may be seen in Pontanus and Claudius Lyscander.
Greenland is divided into two Districts, called Bygdes.The ancient Historians divide Greenland into two Parts or Districts, called West Bygd, and East Bygd. As to the West District,The Western District destroyed by the Schrellingers. which is said to have contained four Parishes, and 100 Villages, all we find in the ancient Histories, amounts to this, viz. That in the 14th Century it was sorely infested by a wild Nation called Schrellings, and laid so waste, that when the Inhabitants of the Eastern District came to the Assistance of the Christians, and to expel the barbarous Nation of the Schrellings, who were fallen upon the Christians, they found to their great Astonishment the Province quite emptied of its Inhabitants, and nothing remaining but some Cattle and Flocks of Sheep, straying wild and unguarded round about the Fields and Meadows; whereof they killed a good Number, which they brought home with them in their Ships. By which it appears, that the Norway Christians in the Western District were destroyed, and Christianity rooted out by the Savage Heathens. The modern Inhabitants have some Knowledge hereof.The modern Inhabitants of West Greenland, being (no doubt) the Offspring of the afore-mentioned wild and barbarous Schrellings, have no certain Account to give us of this Matter; though they will tell you, that the old decayed dwelling Places and Villages, whose Ruins are yet seen, were inhabited formerly by a Nation quite different from theirs; and they also affirm, what the ancient Histories tell us, that their Ancestors made War with them, and destyoyed them[2].
Eastern District hitherto unknown to us.Now as to the Eastern Dictrict, its present State is intirely unknown to us; as there is no coming at it with any Shipping, upon the Account of the vast Quantity of Ice, driven from Spitzbergen and other Northern Coasts upon this Shore, which adhering to the Shore barricades the Land, and renders it wholly inaccessible. East District flourished after the Destruction of the Western.We may nevertheless gather from the above-mentioned Expedition of the East Greenlanders against the Schrellingers, that after the Destruction and total Overthrow of the Western District and its Colonies, the Eastern were yet standing and flourishing. But in what Year this happened, no Notice is taken by the old Historians. Some Remnant of the Norwegian Colonies is supposed to be there still.Nevertheless from many Tokens and Remainders of probable Evidence it may be inferred, that the old Colony of the Eastern District is not yet quite extinct. To the Confirmation of which, Thormoder in his History of Greenland alledges the following Passage.
Amand Bishop of Iceland was in the 16th Century driven under Greenland, where he saw the People feed their Herds and Flocks.Bishop Amand of Shalholt in Iceland (who Anno 1522 had been consecrated, but Anno 1540 again resigned) once returning from Norway to Iceland, was by a Storm driven Westward upon the Coast of Greenland, which he coasted for some time Northwards, made Land towards the Evening, finding themselves off of Herjolsness; they came so near to the Shore, that they could descry the Inhabitants driving their Flocks in the Pasture Grounds: But, as the Wind soon after proved fair, they made all the Sails they could, steering for Iceland, which they reach'd the Day following, and enter'd the Bay of St. Patrick, which lies on the West Coast of the Island, in the Morning early when they were milking their Cows. A Hamburgh Captain by Storm driven on the same Shore, found Relicks of the ancient Inhatants.Birn of Skarsaa (as we learn by the aforesaid Thormoder Torfager) gives the following Relation: In our Time (says he) one name John Greenlander, who for a considerable Time had been employed in the Service of the Hamburgh Merchants, in a Voyage from thence to Iceland, met with contrary Winds and stormy Weather, in which he narrowly escaped being cast away, and lost with Ship and Crew upon the dreadful Rocks of Greenland, by getting in at last to a fine Bay, which contained many Islands, where he happily came to an Anchor under a desert Island; and it was not long before he spied several other Islands not far off, that were inhabited; which for fear of the Inhabitants, he for a while did not dare to approach; till at last he pluck'd up a good Heart, and sending his Boat on Shore, went to the next House, which seem'd but very small and mean. Here he found all the Accoutrements, necessary to fit out a Fishing-Boat; he saw also a Fishing-Booth, or small Hut, made up of Stones, to dry Fish therein, as it is customary in Iceland. There laid a dead Body of a Man, extended upon the Ground, with his Face downwards; a Cap sewed together on his Head; the rest of his Cloathing was made partly of coarse Cloth, and partly of Seal-Skin; an old rustly Knife was found at his Side, which the Captain took, in order to shew it to his Friends at his Return home to Iceland, to serve for a Token of what he had seen. 'Tis further said, that this Commander was three times by Stress of Weather driven upon the Coasts of Greenland, by which he obtained the Surname of Greenlander.
This Relation can be no more than of a Hundred Years standing, as Theodore Torlack affirms; because the abovementioned Annals, in which we read it, were composed by Biorno of Skarsaa within these 30 Years.
There is often found on the Shore of Iceland Wrecks of Boats of Greenland, consisting of broken Pieces of Deal-Boards.The same Author furthermore informs us, that in Iceland there has often been found scattered here and there on the Sea Shore, old broken Pieces of Deal-Boards, which were parts of the Ribs of Boats, which on the Side they were tack'd together, were pasted with a Sort of Pitch or Glue made of the Blubber of Seals; now it stands confess'd, that this kind of Glue is no where made Use of, but only in Greenland. And a Boat of this Make was in the Year 1625 found thrown up, upon a Point of Land near Reiche-Strand, the Structure of which was very artificial, joined together with wooden Nails, not unlike that in which Asmund Kastenrazius, in the Year 1189, in Company with 12 Men cross'd over from Greenland to Iceland; which Boat was likewise tack'd together with wooden Nails, and the Sinews of Animals. The same Historian in his Book de Novitiis Groenlandorum Indiciis tells us, that some Year ago, they found an Oar upon the Eastern Shore of Iceland, whereon these Words were carvved in Runick Characters: Oft var ek dascedar ek dro dik, which signifies, often was I tired, when I carried thee. Besides this, I find a Relation in a German Writer, whose Name is Blefkenius's Story of a Monk, Native of Greenland.Dithmarus Blefkenius, concerning a certain Monk, born in Greenland, who, as Companion to the Bisop of the Place, in the Year 1546 made a Voyage into Norway, where he lived until the Year 1564, and where, the Author says, he got acquainted and personally conversed with him. This Monk told him many strange and surprizing Things of a Dominican Convent in Greenland, called St. Thomas's Convent; to which his Parents sent him in his Youth to become a Monk of that Order. But the Truth of this Relation is very much questioned, being together with several others of Blefkenius's Relations Is refuted by Arngrim, an Author of Credit.refuted and gainsaid by Arngrim in his Treatise intitled Anatome Blefkeniana. Blefkenius's Relation is nevertheless confirmed by several other Authors. Erasmus Franciscus , in his Book called East and West India State Garden, in a Place, where he treats of Greenland, tells us, that a Captian of a Danish Ship, by Name Jacob Hall's Relation of the said Monk, with many remarkable Things.Jacob Hall, being ordered by the King his Master to undertake a Voyage to Greenland, he touched first at Iceland, where he from the King's Lieutenant got Intelligence of Greenland, which before was unknown to him. And that he might the more fully be informed of every thing relating to the matter, a certain Monk was sent for, to instruct him herein, who was said to be a Native of Greenland; of whom the said Jacob Hall, in his short Description, gives the following Account, according to our above-mentioned Author Erasmus Franciscus. "There has formerly been a Convent (says he) in Iceland, call'd Helgafield, or Holy Mountain, in which, though it was decay'd, lived a certain Friar, Native of Greenland, with a broad and tawny Face. This Friar was sent for by the King's Lieutenant in the Presence of Jacob Hall, who wanted to be informed of the State of Greenland. The Friar accordingly told him, that being very young, he was enter'd into this Convent by his Parents; and that he afterwards was commanded by the same Bishop, of whom he had received the holy Orders, to go along with him from thence to Norway, where he submitted himself to the Bishop of Drontheim, to whose Authority and Jurisdiction all the Priests of Iceland were subject; and being returned to his native home, he again retired and shut himself up in his former Convent. This is said to have happened in the Year 1546. He said moreover, that in the Convent of St. Thomas, where he also had pass'd some time, there was a Well of burning-hot Water, which, through Pipes, was conveyed into all the Rooms and Cells of the Convent, for to warm them." This Relation not to be credited.But I think there is as much Reason to question the Authentickness of this Relation, as of the former, in as much as there is no such thing to be found in our Danish Archives or Annals. Notwithstanding which, what concerns St. Thomas's Convent in particular, is confess'd, and confirm'd by the old Histories of Greenland. Nicolas Zenetur, a Venetian by Birth, who served the King of Denmark in the Quality of a Sea Captain, is said by chance to have been driven upon the Coast of Greenland in the Year 1380; and to have seen the sme Dominican Convent. His Relation is alledged by Kircherus in the following Words: In the Convent of St. Thomas there is a Hot Well, whose Water conveyed by Pipes warms the whole Convent."Here is also a Dominican Convent to be seen, dedicated to St. Thomas, in whose Neighbourhood there is a Vulcano of a Mountain that spews Fire, and at the Foot thereof a Well of burning-hot Water. This hot Water is not only conveyed by Pipes into the Convent, and through all the Cells of the Friars, to keep them warm, as with us the Rooms are heated by Stoves of Wood-Fire or other Fuel; but here they also boil and bake their Meat and Bread with the same. This Vulcano, or firey Mountain, throws out such a Quantity of Pumice-Stone, that it hath furnished Materials for the Construction of the whole Convent: There are also fine Gardens, which reap great Benefit from this hot Water, adorn'd with all Sorts of Flowers, and full of Fruit. And after the River has watered these Gardens, it empties itself into the adjoining Bay, which causes it never to freeze; and great Numbers of Fish and Sea-Fowl flock thither, which yields plentiful Provision for the Nourishment of the Inhabitants.
Biorno of Skarsaa's Relation of Bishop Amund is more to be believed than others.Of all the attested Relations that of Biorno of Skarsaa, concerning Bishop Amund of Skalholt, who was driven upon the Coast of Greenland, deserves most to be credited: By which we learn, that the Colony of the Eastern District did flourish about 150 Years after the Commerce and Navigation ceased between Norway and Greenland; and for aught we know, is not yet wholly destitute of its old Norwegian Inhabitants. The modern Greenlanders know nothing of this.We have not been able to get any Account of this Matter from the modern Greenlanders, as they entertain no Correspondence with those Parts; either being hindered by the Ice, which renders them altogether inaccessible; or else for fear the Inhabitants of that Country might kill and devour them; for they represent them as a cruel, barbarous and inhuman Nation, that destroy and eat all Foreigners that fall into their Hands. Yet this notwithstanding, if we may believe the Relation of those Adventurers, who have coasted a great Part of the Eastern Shore; there is no other fort of Inhabitants found on this, than on the Western Side. But how it comes to pass, that the Eastern District, which was so well settled with Norway and Iceland Colonies, that it contained 12 large Parishes, and 190 Villages, besides one Bishop's See and two Convents, and flourished till the Year 1540; at last has been destroyed and laid waste, is what I can't conceive. That some are of Opinion, that the black Plague, so call'd, which ravaged the Northern Countries in the Year 1348, also reach'd Greenland, and made its Havock among its Eastern Colonies, If the Christian Colonies of the East District are destroyed, 'tis likely it was done in the same manner as those on the West Side.is without aay Ground or Reason; because the Commerce was carried into Greenland until the Year 1406; and in 1540 that Colony was still subsisting. If therefore this District be destitute or bereft of its old Inhabitants: 'tis not unlike, they have undergone the same Fatality as the Western ones, being destroyed by the Barbarity of the Savage Schrellingers.
A whole Century passed from the Cessation of all Commerce and Navigation between Norway and Greenland, till new Adventurers began to apply themselves to the Discovery of the Eastern District. Erick Walkendorff Arch-Bishop of Drontheim, his Design to send Ships upon this Discovery.The first of those who took this Affair to Heart was Erick Walkendorff, Arch-Bishop of Drontheim, who was resolved, at his own Charge, to fit out Ships for this Purpose, but was stopt in this pious Design by King Christian the Second, whose Disgrace he had Christian the Second, whose Disgrace he had incurr'd. After him Frederick the Ift attempted the same, but did not succeed.The next was King Frederick the First, whose Mind (as it is reported, was bent upon the said Expedition, but was never put in Execution. Christian the IIId, had no better Success.Christian the Third, (as Lyscander relates) sent several Ships with the same Design, but without making any Discovery. Mogens Heinson, sent by Frederick IId, had Sight of the Land, without approached it.Frederick the IId succeeded his Royal Father as well in the Government, as in his good Design about Greenland; on which Errand he sent Mogens Heinson, a renowned Seaman in those Days. This Adventurer, after he had gone through many Difficulties and Dangers of Storms and Ice, got Sight of the Land, but could not approach it; Pretended that he was stopt under full Sail by some hidden magnetick Rocks.whereupon he returned home again, and pretended, that he might have got on Shore, if his Ship had not been stop't in the midst of its Course by some Loadstone Rocks hidden in the Sea, that he could not proceed, thoough he had a very favourable and strong Gale of Wind, and no Ice to hinder him; which frightened him and made him sail back again to Denmark. But the true Loadstone Rocks, in my Opinion, was the terrible Fright he was in of not getting safe through the dreadful Ice Mountains, which threatened him, or else the strong Current, which always runs along the States Promontory, with such Violence and Rapidity, that it often stops a Ship under full Sail, so that the Ship can make but little or no Way at all against it. The Cause by others assigned for this strange Effect is the Or stay'd by the Fish Remora.Fish Remora, which the Northlanders call Kracken is nothing but a fabulous Story of the too credulous Antients, and labours under no less Absurdities than the former Opinion, that Rocks of Loadstone, laying on the Bottom of the Sea, can stay the Course of a Ship that sails on the Surface of it.
Sir Marin Forbisher is by Queen Elizabeth sent to discover Greenland.In the same Year that Mogens Heinson went upon the Greenland Discovery, the English Histories inform us, that Captain Martin Forbisher, an Englishman, was by the glorious Queen Elizabeth sent upon the same Errand. This Adventurer got Sight of the Land, but being partly hindred by the Ice, which adhered to it, and partly by the Shortness of the Winter Days (for it was late in the Year) he could not approach it, and so returned to England again. Next Year in the Spring he went upon the same Expedition with three Ships. After having gone through many great Dangers of the Ice and Storms, he at length reached the Shore, Went ashore and found a wild Nation inhabiting it.where he found a wild and savage Nation; who, when they saw the English coming to them, being frightened, left their Huts, and run away to hide themselves. Some from the highest Rocks, threw themselves into the Sea; whereupon the English entered their Huts, where they met with no body but an old Woman, and a young one big with Child, those they carried away with them. 'Tis also reported, that they here found some Sand, which contained Particles of Gold and Silver,He is said to have brought from thence 300 Tuns of Gold and Silver Sand. of which they filled 300 Tuns, and brought it home with them to England. As to this Gold and Silver Sand, I can't help questioning whether they found any such on the Greenland Sore, in as much as Sir Martin in the same Strain relates wonderful Things of the Politeness and CivilityThere are many Things to be questioned in the said Relation. of a Nation that dwelt in those Parts; of which he says, they were governed by a Prince, whom they called Kakiunge; and carried him in State on their Shoulders, clothed in rich Stuffs, and adorned with Gold and precious Stones, which does not at all agree with the Meanness and Coarseness of Greenland and its Inhabitants; but rather seems to belong to the rich Kingdoms of Peru and Mexico, where Gold and Silver abounds; and from whence he may have brought the above-mentioned Gold and Silver Sand.
But I think it high time to leave such uncertain Relations to their Worth; and turn our Thoughts towards the pious Endeavours of our most gracious Sovereigns the Kings of Denmark, to discover and recover Greenland again. And we find, that after the Expeditions of Frederick the IId, King Christian the IVth sends four times Ships to discover Greenland.Christian the IVth his Sucessor, with great Costs ordered four different Expeditions for this Discovery. The first was undertaken, under the Command of Godske Lindenow, with three Ships. And, as the History tells, Lindenow with his Ship arrived upon the East Coast of Greenland, which I hardly can believe) and found none but wild uncivilised People there, like those Forbisher is said first to have met with. He staid there three Days, during which Time the wild Greenlanders came to trade with him; changing all Sorts of Furs and Skins with Pieces of precious Horns, against all Kinds of small trifling Iron-Ware; as Knives, Scissars, Needles, common Looking-Glasses, and other such Trifles. M. de Lindenow by Force carries away two Savages.When he set Sail from thence, there were two Greenlanders remaining in the Ship, whom he carried off, and brought them home along with him: these, as they made all their Endeavour to get away from him, and sometimes would have jumped into the Sea, they were obliged to tye and secure them; which when their Countrymen observed, who flocked together upon the Shore, they made a hideous Outcry and Howling, flung Stones, and shot their Arrows at the Sailors, upon which they from the Ship fired a Gun, which frightned and dispersed them; and so the Ship left them. The two other Ships, that set Sail in Company, and under the Command of Lindenow, The other two Ships brought some Metal which contained Silver-Ore, and four Savages.after they had doubled Cape Farewell, steered directly for the Strait of Davis; in which Navigation they discovered many fine Harbours, delightful green Meadow-lands, but all the Inhabitants along the Coasts wild and savage, as before. 'Tis pretended also, that they in some Places found Stones, which contained some Silver Ore, which they took along with them; of which 100 Pound yelded 26 Ounces of Silver. (Here again I cannot forbear questioning, whether this Silver-Ore has been found on the Greenland Shore, or rather over against it, on the American Coast.) These two Ships also brought four Savages home with them to Copenhagen.
In the second Voyage the four Savages were sent back again, but one died at Sea.The second Expedition was made by Order of the same King in the Year 1606, with five Ships, under the Conduct of the aforementioned Admiral Lindenow; bringing along with them three of the Savages (one of them dying in the Voyage) which they had carried off, the Year before, from Greenland. But this time he directed his Couse to the Westward of Cape Farewell, standing for the Strait of Davis; where he coasting along took the Survey of several Places, and then returned home again.
In the third they had Sight of Land, but could not get to it.The third and last Expedition of this glorious King was only of two Ships, commanded by Captain Carsten Richards, a Holstenian by Birth; he spied the Land and its high and craggy Rocks afar off, but could not come near it, on Account of the Ice; and so, after he had lost his Labour, he returned home.
Captain Munck's Navigation, 1616.The fourth Expedition of King Christian the IVth, under the Conduct of Captain Jens Munck in the Year 1616, was not made for the Discovering of Greenland, but to find out a Passage between Greenland and America to China; the Misfortunes of which Expedition are related by the said Commander.
The fifth Expedition by a Company of Merchants at Copenhagen.There was besides these four Expeditions, at the King's Cost, a fifth undertaken, in the same King's Reign, by a Company settled in Copenhagen in the Year 1636; of which Company the President was the Lord High Chancellor, Christian Friis, as Lyscander informs us. Two Ships, fitted out by this Company, directing their Course to the Westward of Greenland, fell in with the Strait of Davis, where they traded, for a while, with the Savages: But this was not the main Concern of the Commander, who was acquainted with a Coast, whose Sand had the Colour and Weight of Gold,Brought from thencec a yellow Sand, said to contain Gold. which he accordingly and not miss; and filled both their Ships with the same. After their Return to Copnhagen, the Goldsmiths were ordered to make a Trial, whether this Sand would yield any Gold, or no; who not being skillful enough to make such a Trial, condemned it to be all thrown over Board; which was done by Order of the High Chancellor, President of the Company. Some Part of the said Sand was yet kept, out of Curiosity; out of which Artificer, who afterwards came to Copenhagen, did extract a good deal of pure Gold. The honest and well-meaning Commander, who went upon this Adventure, was turned out of Favour, and out of Grief died soon after: whereby not only the Treasure they had brought home, but also the Knowledge of the Place, where it was to be found, was intirely lost, as he kept this a Secret to himself.
1654. A Ship was sent by one Muller, which brought home three Women.In the Year 1654, during the Reign of King Frederick the IIId, a noble and wealthy Adventurer, by name Henry Muller, fitted out a Ship for Greenland, under the Command of David de Nelles; who arrived safe in Greenland, and brought from thence three Women, whose Names were Kunelik, Kabelau and Sigokou; who, according to the Opinion of Bishop Torlais, (who had perused the said Captain's Journal) were taken in the Neighbourhood of Herjolsness, on the Eastern Shore, as Thormoder Torfæus pretends; but which I can't be made to believe: My Opinion is, they were brought from the Western Shore, near Baal's River, as some of the Inhabitants, who are still living, had in fresh Remembrance, telling me their Names, as they are laid down in the forementioned Journal.
1670. Another Ship was sent by the Order of Christian the Vth. By whose Encouragement also one Mr. Tormúhlen of Bergen fitted out a Ship and Colony for those Parts provided with all Necessaries.The last Adventurer, that was sent upon the Discovery of Greenland, according to Torfæus in his History of Greenland, was Captain Otto Axelson in the Year 1670, in the Reign of Christian the Vth of glorious Memory. But what Success this Adventurer met with, he leaves us to guess. Nevertheless we find in a Manuscript Description of Greenland, written by Arngrim Vidalin, Part III. Chap. 1, that his said Majesty did invite, and with great Privileges encourage Mr. George Tormúhlen Counsellor of Commerce at Bergen, to fit out Ships for the said Discovery; whereupon the said Counsellor not only got ready Shipping well stored for such an Expedition; but also got together a Number of Passengers, who resolved to go and settle in those Parts, whom he provided with all things necessary for that Purpose; both Provision and Ammunition, as well as Houses made of Timber, ready to be erected in that Country. This Ship was taken by the French, and brought into Dunkirk.But this great Design miscarried, the Ship being taken by the French and brought into Dunkirk.
1721. The Greenland Company at Bergen transported a Colony to Greenland, which the Author accompanied.Thus, for a long while it seemed, that all Thought of Greenland was laid aside, until the Year 1721; when after many well-meant Invitations, and Projects proposed by me to the Greenland Company at Bergen in Norway, approved and authorised by his late Majesty Frederick the IVth of glorious Memory, the Company thereupon resolved not only to send Ships, but also to settle a Colony in Greenland in the 64th Degree, when I went over with my whole Family, and remained there 15 Years. During my Stay I endeavoured to get all the Intelligence that could be procured both by Sea and Land of the present State of the Country, and did not lose my Labour; for I found some Places that formerly were inhabited by the old Norwegians, on the western Shore. Which Expedition I have lately treated of in another Treatise, and set out in all its Circumstances, and with all the Difficulties it has laboured under: Wherefore I think it needs not to be here repeated.
But, whereas my main Drift and Endeavour has been all along chiefly to discover the Eastern District of Greenland, which always was reckoned the best of our ancient Colonies; accordingly I received from the above mentioned Greenland Company at Bergen a Letter in the Year 1723, in which I was told, that it was his Majesty's Pleasure, that the East District might likewise be visited and covered. 1723. The Author went to take a Survey of the present State of the East Side.Which the better to effectuate, I took the Resolution to make this Voyage in Person: And accordinly I coasted it Southwards, as far as to the States Promontory, looking out for the Strait of Forbisher, which would have been my shortest way, according to those Carts, which lay the said Strait down in this Place; but such a Strait I could not find. Now as itBut the approaching Winter obliged him to return. grew too late in the Year, for me to proceed further, the Month of Sèptember being near at an End, when the Winter-Season begins in those Parts, accompanied by dreadfull Storms, I was obliged to return.
In the Year 1724. the Directors of the1724. A Shop was fitted out by the said Company for the Discovery of the East District; said Begen Company, according to his Majesty's Good Will and Pleasure, fitted out a Ship to attempt a Landing on the Eastern Shore, as had been formerly practised on that Coast, which lies opposite to Iceland. But the surprizing Quantity of Ice, whichBut could not approach it for the Flakes of Ice. barricadoed the Coast, made that Enterprize prove abortive and quite to miscarry, as many others had done. As there was no Appearance for Ships to approach this Shore, the same King in the Year 1728. resolved,1728. King Frederick the IVth sends Horses to try to get thither over Land. besides other very considerable Expences, to have Horses transported to this Colony, in Hopes, that with their Help they might travel by Land to this Eastern District: But nothing was more impossible than this Project, on Account of the impracticable, high and craggy Mountains perpetually covered with Ice and Snow, which never thaws. An Attempt made again by Lieutenant Richard, 1729.Another new Attempt by Sea was by Order of the said King made in the Year 1729. by Lieutenant Richard; who with his Ship passed the Winter near the new Danish Colony, in Greenland, and in his Voyage back to Denmark made all the Endeavours he could to come at the aforesaid Shore, opposite to Iceland; but all to no Purpose, being herein disappointed, like the Rest before him.
A new Project for to penetrate to the East Side.All these Difficulties and continual Disappointments, have made most People lose all Hopes of succeeding in this Attempt: Nevertheless, I flatter my self to have hit luckily on an Expedient, which to me seems not unpracticable, though hitherto not tried, or at least but lightly executed: viz. to endeavour to coast the Land from the States Promontory, or (as we call it) Cape Prince Christian, Northwards. The Information I have had of some Greenlanders, who in their Boats have coasted a great Part of the East-Side, confirms me in my Opinion; for although an incredible Quantity of driven Ice yearly comes from Spitzbergen or New Greenland, along this Coast, and passes by the States Promontory; which hinders the approaching of Ships, as far as the Ice stretches, where about the best Part of the Norwegian Colonies were settled; yet there have been found Breaks and open Sea near the Shore, through which Boats and smaller Vessels may pass: I am of Opinion, at certain Times one may pass near the Shore in Boats.And according to the Relation of the Greenlanders, as well as agreeably to my own Experience, the Current, that comes out of the Bays and Inlets, always running along the Shore, South-West-wards, hinders the Ice from adhering to the Land, and keeps it at a Distance from the Shore: By which means the Greenlanders at certain times, without any Hindrance, have past and repassed part of this Coast in their Kone-Boats; (so they call their large Boats) though they have not been so far as where the old Norway-Colonies had their Settlement; of which no Doubt there are still some Ruins to be seen on this Eastern Shore. Furthermore I have been credibly informed by Dutch Seamen that frequent these Seas, that several of their Ships have at Times found the East-Side of Greenland Because this Coast has at Times been found clear of Ice.cleared of the Ice, as far as the 62d Degree; and they had tarried some time among the out Rocks on that Coast, where they carried on a profitable Trade with the Savages. And I my self in my Return from Greenland homewards in the Year 1736. found it to be so, when we passed the States Promontory and Cape Farewell; and stood in near the Shore, where at that Time there was no Ice to be seen, which otherwise is very uncommon. But as this happens so seldom, it is very uncertain and unsafe for any Ship, to venture so far up under the Eastern Shore. But, as I observed a little before, it is more safe and practicable to coast it from the Promontory along the Shore in small Vessels;The surest way to get to the East Side, is to make a Lodge on the Southernmost Point of the Land. especially if there be a Lodge erected in the Latitude of between 60 and 61 Degrees: and it would be still more convenient, if there could be a Way and Means found likewise to place a Lodge on the Eastern Shore in the same Latitude. For according to the Account the Ancients have left us of Greenland, the Distance of Ground that lies uncultivated between the West and East Side is but 12 Norway Miles by Water. See Ivarus Beri's Relation; or according to a later Computation, it is a Journey of fix Days in a Boat. And as the Ruins of old Habitations, which I have discovered between 60 and 61 Degrees, are without doubt in the most Southerly Part of the West Side; it of Necessity follows, that the Distance cannot be very great from thence to the most Southern Parts of the Eastern Side. Now, if it should be found practicable, at certain Times, to pass along the Shore with Boats or small Ships to the East Side, to the Latitude of 63 and 64 Degrees, little Small Lodges to be erected here and there.Lodges might be settled here and there with Colonies; by which Means a constant Correspondence might be kept, and mutual Assistance given to one another, though larger Ships could not yearly visit every one of them, but only touch at the most Southerly ones. I am also persuaded, that the thing is feasible, and if it should please God in his Mercy to forward this Affair, By such means a Correspondence may be entertained.Colonies might be established here, which, without great Trouble, might be supplied yearly with all Necessaries.
- ↑ Historians disagree about the Time of the first Settlement of Greenland. The Icelanders (as we have mentioned) will have it to be done in the Year 982-3. But Pontanus, in his Danish History, refers it to the Year 770; making his Assertion good by a Bull of Pop Gregory the IVth, who in the Year 835 sent to Bisho Ansgarius, wherein the Propagation of the Gospel is recommended to him, as Archbishop of the Northern Countries, and especially of Iceland and Greenland.
- ↑ A ridiculous Tale of the modern Greenlanders concerning the Origin and Destruction of our Nation in those Parts.The Greenlanders relate a very ridiculous Story, as well concerning the Origin of our Colonies (whom they stile with the Name of Kablunœt) as also of their total Overthrow, as follows: A Greenland Woman in her Child-bearing, was once delivered of Kablunœt and Dogs Whelps, of which the Parents were highly ashamed; and for that Reason withdrew from their Neighbours and Countrymen. This monstrous Breed, being grown up, became so troublesome to their Father, that he was not able to endure them; wherefore he retired yet further to some distant Place. Mean while this inhuman Race came to this horrible Agreement amongst themselves, to devour their own Father, whenever he should happen to come among them; which a little after came to pass, when he visited them with a Presed of some Part of a Seal, which he had taken, according to Custom. Kablunœt immediately went down to him, to whom the Father delivered the Piece of Seal-Flesh he had brought them. But he was no sooner got a-shore, before the Doggish Race seized and devoured him, and then fell a eating the Seal-Flesh, given them. Whilst the Kablunœt dwelled there, one of the Innuits, (or Mankind) for so they call themselves, came rowing along the Shore, and throwing his Dart at some Sea-Fowl, missed what he aimed at; which one of the Kablunœt, who stood upon a Point of Land running out into the Sea, observing, mocked and ridiculed him, and laying himself down upon the Ground, told him, that as he saw he was so dexterous in shooting, he would be the Bird, he might throw the Dart at him, and take Care not to miss him. Whereupon Innuit shot and killed him. This Death caused continual Strifes and Wars between the Kablunœts and Innuits, which last at length became Masters, and overthrew the former.