A NEIGHBOURLY VISIT, 1 33 head, and it is dragged on to the ice-field, often with considerable difficulty, and killed with hatchets. It is really more like fishing than hunting. It is considered a great treat to drink the warm blood of the walrus, and the Esquimaux often indulge in it to excess. Kalumah came to the fort every day in spite of the severity of the weather. She was never tired of going through the different rooms, and watching Mrs Joliffe at her cooking or sewing. She asked the English name of everything, and talked for hours together with Mrs Barnett, if the term " talking " can be applied to an exchange of words after long deliberation on both sides. When Mrs Barnett read aloud, Kalumah listened with great attention, although she probably understood nothing of what she heard. The young native girl had a sweet voice, and sometimes sang some strange melancholy rhythmical songs with a peculiar metre, and, if we may so express it, a frosty ring about them, peculiarly characteristic of their origin. Mrs Barnett had the patience to translate one of these Greenland sagas, which was sung to a sad air, interspersed with long pauses, and filled with strange intervals, which produced an indescribable effect. We give an English rendering of Mrs Barnett's translation, which may give a faint idea of this strange hyperborean poetry : — GREENLAND SONG. Dark is the sky. The sun sinks wearily ; My trembling heart, with sorrow filled, Aches drearily ! My sweet child at my songs is smiling still, While at his tender heart the icicles lie chilL Child of my dreams ! Thy love doth cheer me ; The cru,el biting frost I brave But to be near thee ! Ah me, Ah me, could these hot tears of mine But melt the icicles around that heart of thine/ Could we once more Meet heart to heart. Thy little hands close clasped in mine, No more to part. Then on thy chill heart rays from heaven above Should fall, and softly melt it with the warmth of love I
