GREENLAND, a region of unknown extent northwards, stretches from its southern' extremity, cape Farewell (q.v.). along the Atlantic and Arctic oceans on the e., and Davis' strait, Battin's bay, and Smith's sound on the west. The w. coast pursues a n.n.w. direction as far as cape Alexander, in 78° 10' n. lat. It then has a north-easterly direction, gradually changing to easterly beyond 82° 30'. Lieut. Beau-. moot, of the British Arctic expedition of 1S75-76, followed the line of the coast with a sledge-party to 82° 54' n. lat., and 48° 33' w. long., when the land was beginning to trend southward. It is thus almost conclusively proved that Greenland is entirely distinct from the land on the w. side of Smith's sound—that in fact Greenland is an island. Previously our knowledge of the western coast was chiefly derived from Dr. Kane, who had assigned cape Alexander, in about lat. 78° 10' n. as its termination. Greenland is said to have been first discovered about the close of the 9th c. by an Ice lander named Gunbi5rn, who named it Hvidsaerk (White Shirt), from its snowy head lands. It first obtained the name Greenland from another Icelander, Eric Rau5i (the Red), who led hither an expedition in 985 or 086, and founded two settlements on the w. coast, called the Oestre and Westre Bygd (the e. and w. colonies). About four cen turies afterwards, the Westre Bygd was destroyed by the pestilence called the "black death," combined with the attacks of the aborigines; abd a century after this, the Oestre' Bygd suffered the same fate. Greenland was visited, and its w. coast explored, suc cessively by Frobisher, Davis, and Baffin, the latter having advanced as far as lat. 78° n. (the limit of the inhabited country). In our own times Dr. Kane has extended his explorations as far as let. 82° 30', or within 520 m. of the north pole. The eastern and southern coasts appear to be so beset with ice as to be practically inaccessible. The former was explored by Dr. Scoresby as far as lat. 74° 30' n., and two inlets, Scoresby's sound and Davy's sound, were discovered running, far into the interior. This coast land is called by the inhabitants of the other districts Lost Greenland. Owing to the great extent of land towards the pole, the climate of Greenland is colder than that of corresponding latitudes further e•—so much so, that in Lapland, let. 72° n., the tempera ture is as high as in Greenland. let. 60° north. From observations made by Dr. Kane between Sept., 1853, and April, 1855, in lat. 78° 37' n., long. 70° 40' w., the average temperature throughout the year is — 3.22°; from Oct. to April inclusive, — 23.43°; from May to Sept. inclusive, 4-25.07°. The greatest degree of cold was — 68° in Feb., and the greatest heat was + 53.9° in July, the only month in which the averame tempera ture was above the freezing-point. During the short summer, which in places
exceeds four months (during two of which, June and July, the sun is always above the horizon), vegetation is very rapid, the plants being for the most part the same as those indifrenous to the n. of Scotland, but of a more dwarfish character, the tallest trees not exceeding 18 feet. The inclemency of these regions does not affect the animal kingdom (man excepted). The walrus, seal, polar bear, arctic fox, dog, and reindeer abound, and supply the inhabitants with almost all the necessaries of life. Black cattle and sheep have been introduced by the missionaries. The sea swarms with different species of cetacea, such as the rorqual, mysticetus, narwhal, porpoise, etc., and of fish, as the cod, salmon, and herring. Sea-fowl are also very abundant during the summer season, while guillemots, sandpipers, plovers, and grouse are also found. The only mineral which lies been found in sufficient quantity for exportation is cryolite (q.v.), which is found at Arksut, and is largely exported. Near the same locality are found veins of tin associated with ores of lead, copper, zinc, iron, molybdenum, and with cryolite, fluor-spar, zircon, and other minerals. Copper-ore is said to be abundant in various parts, and gadolinite, sodalite, tourmaline, along with garnets, iolite, roc'k crystal, etc., are often found. Good coal is found in abundance on the island of Disco.
There are now 13 different Danish colonies along the w. coast of Greenland-7 in north Greenland (n. of lat. 67° n.), and Gin south Greenland, with a pop. of about 10.000, inclusive of from 200 to 300 Danes. The first settlement was made in 1721, by Hans Egede (q.v.) a Norwegian clergyman at Godthaab, who, with 43 colonists, planted a missionary station in this bleak region. This mission is supported by time Danish gov ernment. - It now possesses 8 missionary stations, and the Moravians 5; from Juliane haat), the most southern, to Upernavik, at the very verge of human existence. In May, 1874, the first native, pastor was ordained. The population depends chiefly on the fisheries—the slam° which have so long- attracted so many vesSels freniGreat Britain. The exports are whale and seal oil, and cryolite; the skins of the seal, reindeer, and fox; and eider-down. The imports are wheat, brandy, coffee, sugar, tobacco, and fire wood. About 10,000 or 12,000 tons of cryolite are annually- exported, half to Denmark and half to the United States. The trade to Greenland has always been a monopoly in the hands of the Danish government. Each settlement is managed by a trader and his assistant, who are paid by government. The whale-tisheries, which are carried on by the settlers, are also for the behoof of the Danish crown.