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1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome

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	They say, that in several parts of Groenlandt there are Lands which bear as good Wheat as any Ground in the World; and Chestnuts so large, that their Kernels are as big as Apples; that the Mountains yield Marble of all sorts of colours; that the Grass for Pastures is good, and feeds quantities of great and small Cattle; that there are Horses, Stags, Wolves, Foxes, Black and White Bears, Beavers, Martles, &c. That the Sea is full of great Fishes, as Sea-Wolves, Dogs, and Calves, but above all of Whales; that the white Bears live more on the Sea than on the Land; and that as the Black ones feed only on Flesh, the White ones do on Fish, and are especially greedy of little Whales, which causes a great Antipathy between them and Whales, who pursue them where∣ever they can scent them: That their Fish Marhval carrieth a Tooth or Horn so strong and long, that it fights against and pierces the Whale, as the Rhino∣ceros does the Elephant: and they assure us, that the Horn is of the same greatness, form, and matter, and hath the same properties as those which we here esteem in the Ʋnicorns.		They say, that in several parts of Groenlandt there are Lands which bear as good Wheat as any Ground in the World; and Chestnuts so large, that their Kernels are as big as Apples; that the Mountains yield Marble of all sorts of colours; that the Grass for Pastures is good, and feeds quantities of great and small Cattle; that there are Horses, Stags, Wolves, Foxes, Black and White Bears, Beavers, Martles, &c. That the Sea is full of great Fishes, as Sea-Wolves, Dogs, and Calves, but above all of Whales; that the white Bears live more on the Sea than on the Land; and that as the Black ones feed only on Flesh, the White ones do on Fish, and are especially greedy of little Whales, which causes a great Antipathy between them and Whales, who pursue them where∣ever they can scent them: That their Fish Marhval carrieth a Tooth or Horn so strong and long, that it fights against and pierces the Whale, as the Rhino∣ceros does the Elephant: and they assure us, that the Horn is of the same greatness, form, and matter, and hath the same properties as those which we here esteem in the Ʋnicorns.

	The Norwegians and Danes, who sometime since have passed into Groenlandt, say, that the Language of its Inhabitants is so different from that of Norway or Denmark, that there is little appearance they could descend either from the one or the other; and that if formerly there have been any Colonies of Norwe∣gians, they are quite extinct. In 1636 the Danes which went thither to Trade, demanded by signs, if beyond that ridge of Mountains there were any Men; the Savages made them to understand, they were innumerable, higher,* 1.19 and stronger than they; and that they used great Bows and Arrows, and would not have any Commerce, nor suffer the sight of Strangers. The Habits of those with whom the Danes traded (some of which they brought into Denmark) were of Skins of Wild Beasts, their Shirts of the Entrails of Fish, and their Wastcoats of the Skins of Birds with their Feathers.		The Norwegians and Danes, who sometime since have passed into Groenlandt, say, that the Language of its Inhabitants is so different from that of Norway or Denmark, that there is little appearance they could descend either from the one or the other; and that if formerly there have been any Colonies of Norwe∣gians, they are quite extinct. In 1636 the Danes which went thither to Trade, demanded by signs, if beyond that ridge of Mountains there were any Men; the Savages made them to understand, they were innumerable, higher, and stronger than they; and that they used great Bows and Arrows, and would not have any Commerce, nor suffer the sight of Strangers. The Habits of those with whom the Danes traded (some of which they brought into Denmark) were of Skins of Wild Beasts, their Shirts of the Entrails of Fish, and their Wastcoats of the Skins of Birds with their Feathers.

	These same Relations make mention of an Old and New Groenlandt; this descending towards the South, the other mounting towards the North; but that some years since the North Seas have been so loaden with Ice, that the first ones not being melted before Winter, and the other having continued from time to time, to add to them, and lie in heaps one upon the other, the Sun in the end hath not had power to break them, and in succession of time this way hath been stopt up, and the communication of Iseland with Old Groenlandt lost.</blockquote>		These same Relations make mention of an Old and New Groenlandt; this descending towards the South, the other mounting towards the North; but that some years since the North Seas have been so loaden with Ice, that the first ones not being melted before Winter, and the other having continued from time to time, to add to them, and lie in heaps one upon the other, the Sun in the end hath not had power to break them, and in succession of time this way hath been stopt up, and the communication of Iseland with Old Groenlandt lost.</blockquote>

			=== 1694. The great historical, geographical and poetical dictionary by Louis Moreri. ===
			<blockquote>Groenland, is that same Northern Part of the Land which winds from the South to the East, declining toward the North from Cape Farwell, in the Deucaledonian, all along the Coasts of the Frozen Sea, that extend themselves toward Spitzberg and Nova Zembla. Some have affirm'd, That it joyns to Tartary; but there is no Certainty in that Relation. It has to the East the Frozen Sea; to the South, the Deucaledonian Ocean; and to the West, the Streight Christian, and the Sea call'd Christian, which separates it from America. The Breadth of it is unknown, to the North. The Danish Chronicle reportes it to be the Extremity of the World, to the North; and that beyond, there is no more Northern Land. There are some who believe that Groenland is a Continent of America; since the English, who sought to pass the Streight of Davis, in search of a Way into the East, have found, that what Davis took for a Streight, is a Gulph. But Munck, a Danish Captain, who attempted the East Passage through the North-West of Davis's Gulph, is of Opinion, That Groenland is a Country altogether separate from America. The Elevation of Groenland, taken from Cape Farwell, according to the Measure taken by Captain Munck, an Understanding Seaman, is 60 deg. 30 min. The other Parts, more elevated, approach nearer the Pole: Nor is there any thing certain to be decided, but only of Spitsberg; which the Danes count to be a Part of Groenland, and place in 78 deg. or thereabouts; meaning Longitude all this while: For as to Latitude, there is nothing at all of Certainty; only, that Cape Farwell lies beyond the Canaries, and our First Meridian.

			There are two Chronicles, the one Island, the other Danish, that inform us, how one Forvaldus, and his Son Erric, having committed a Murther in Torway, fled into Island; where Erric committing a second Murther, resolv'd to seek out a Land which a Friend of his had discover'd, to the West of Island. Which Land he found, and made his Approach to it, between two Promontories, the one standing in an Island over-against the Continent of Groenland, the other in the Continent it self; the first call'd Huidserken, the other Huarf: That he landed first in the Island, and call'd it Erric Sun, by his own Name: That all the Winter he stay'd in the Island, and the next Spring pass'd over into Groenland; which he so call'd, from the Verdure of the Meadows and Trees. Being thus landed, in a Port which he call Ericsfiorden, he built a small Mansion, which he call'd Ostrebug, not far from the Port; and thence proceeding Westward, rais'd another Habitation, which he call'd Westrebug. Next Summer he went Northward, as far as a Rock call'd Snefiel, or the Rock of Snow, and discover'd another Harbour, which he call'd Ravensfiorden, or the Port of Crows. Upon this, Erric returns into Island, and perswades a great number of the Islanders to go along with him; which they did. And much about the same time, Leiffe, the Son of Errick, went into Norway: Where addressing himself to Olaus Trugger, then King of Norway, he made him a Relation of the Goodness of the Land which his Father had discover'd. Upon which, the King of Norway, after he had caus'd him to be Baptiz'd, sent him back to his Father, with a Priest, to instruct both his Father, and the People that were with him, in the Christian Religion. The Danish Chronicle reports, That the Successors of Erric being multiplied in Groenland, advanc'd farther into the Country, and found, among the Mountains, very Fertile Valleys, Meadows and Rivers; divided Groenland into Eastern and Western, and built in the Eastern-part a City, which they call'd Garde, which was afterwards the Seat of their Bishops, with a Church dedicated to St Nicolas. After which, their Posterity went farther, and built another City by the Name of Albe. (See the Specimen Islandicum of Angrimus Jonas, where he speaks of Groenland, from the first Settlement of the People, to the Year 1389.) The Island Chronicle makes mention of another City in the Eastern-part of Groenland, call'd Skagefiord; a Church, call'd Korskirk; with two or three Monasteries; and that the County of Vestrebug, or West-Groenland, was inhabited by a sort of Savages, call'd Skreglingres. However it were, it is agreed on all hands, that the Country of Groenland abounded in excellent Pasturage, and vast numbers of Horses, great and small Cattle, Deer, Raine-Deer, Wolfs, Foxes, Black and White Bears, &c. And great store of Wild Fowl, especially Grey and White Falcons. The Island Chronicle also further observes, That the Air of Groenland was more Temperate than in Norway. But it seems, that n the Year 1348. a great Pestilence, call'd the Black Pestilence, destroy'd all the Mariners and Merchants of Norway and Denmark that compos'd the Groenland-Companies in those Kingdoms; which caused such an Interruption of the Voyages and Trade to Old Groenland, that the Country is quite lost. Since that, several New Discoveries have been made of other Parts of Groenland, by Martin Forbisher and Hudson, both Englishmen; John Munken, of Denmark; and Others, who have met with People in several Parts, but so Wild and Savage, that they could never be civiliz'd by any Presents or Caresses. The Men Fat, Active, and their Complexions Olive-coloured, using for their Weapons short Bows and Slings. The Women tie their Hair behind their Ears, to shew their Faces, which are generally painted with Blew and Yellow. Their Habits are made of the Skins of Fish, artificially sew'd together with the Sinews, of the Fish; and the Shifts both of the Men and Women, made of the Intrails of Fish, sewed together after the same manner, but very noisome and nasty. Some of the Danish Seamen brought away several of the Groenlanders: But notwithstanding all the kind Usage that was shewn 'em in the King's Court, such was their Affection for their Native Country, that they pin'd away for grief of their being detain'd from it. Relation of Groenland, dedicated to M. de la Mothe le Vayer.</blockquote>

Admin: Created page with " ==Etymology and other names== ==History== ==Geography== ==Demographics== ==Economy== ==Culture== ==Government== ==Military== ==Education== ==Transportation== ==Notable People== ==Sources from old books== === 1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome ===
GROENLANDT, that is, GREENLAND, hath been long known to those of Iseland and Norway. Account is made that one Torwald, and his Son Errick of Norway, passed into Iseland about the year 800..."

2024-12-20T20:33:16Z

Created page with " ==Etymology and other names== ==History== ==Geography== ==Demographics== ==Economy== ==Culture== ==Government== ==Military== ==Education== ==Transportation== ==Notable People== ==Sources from old books== === 1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome === <blockquote>GROENLANDT, that is, GREENLAND, hath been long known to those of Iseland and Norway. Account is made that one Torwald, and his Son Errick of Norway, passed into Iseland about the year 800..."

New page

==Etymology and other names==
==History==
==Geography==
==Demographics==
==Economy==
==Culture==
==Government==
==Military==
==Education==
==Transportation==
==Notable People==
==Sources from old books==

=== 1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome ===
<blockquote>GROENLANDT, that is, GREENLAND, hath been long known to those of Iseland and Norway. Account is made that one Torwald, and his Son Errick of Norway, passed into Iseland about the year 800; and that from Iseland, Errick and his Son Lieffe, passed a little after into Groenlandt where they established some Colonies of Norwegians: And the same History saith, that Lieffe had some Combats with the Ancient Sekreglingres and Native In∣habitants of the Country, and that those of Norway held but a small part in the East Coast of Groenlandt, the Sekreglingres keeping the rest with∣in the Country; and that what the Norwegians possessed and knew in Groenlandt, was not the hundreth part; but that there were divers People, go∣verned by several Lords, of which the Norwegians had no knowledge.

They say, that in several parts of Groenlandt there are Lands which bear as good Wheat as any Ground in the World; and Chestnuts so large, that their Kernels are as big as Apples; that the Mountains yield Marble of all sorts of colours; that the Grass for Pastures is good, and feeds quantities of great and small Cattle; that there are Horses, Stags, Wolves, Foxes, Black and White Bears, Beavers, Martles, &c. That the Sea is full of great Fishes, as Sea-Wolves, Dogs, and Calves, but above all of Whales; that the white Bears live more on the Sea than on the Land; and that as the Black ones feed only on Flesh, the White ones do on Fish, and are especially greedy of little Whales, which causes a great Antipathy between them and Whales, who pursue them where∣ever they can scent them: That their Fish Marhval carrieth a Tooth or Horn so strong and long, that it fights against and pierces the Whale, as the Rhino∣ceros does the Elephant: and they assure us, that the Horn is of the same greatness, form, and matter, and hath the same properties as those which we here esteem in the Ʋnicorns.

The Norwegians and Danes, who sometime since have passed into Groenlandt, say, that the Language of its Inhabitants is so different from that of Norway or Denmark, that there is little appearance they could descend either from the one or the other; and that if formerly there have been any Colonies of Norwe∣gians, they are quite extinct. In 1636 the Danes which went thither to Trade, demanded by signs, if beyond that ridge of Mountains there were any Men; the Savages made them to understand, they were innumerable, higher,* 1.19 and stronger than they; and that they used great Bows and Arrows, and would not have any Commerce, nor suffer the sight of Strangers. The Habits of those with whom the Danes traded (some of which they brought into Denmark) were of Skins of Wild Beasts, their Shirts of the Entrails of Fish, and their Wastcoats of the Skins of Birds with their Feathers.

These same Relations make mention of an Old and New Groenlandt; this descending towards the South, the other mounting towards the North; but that some years since the North Seas have been so loaden with Ice, that the first ones not being melted before Winter, and the other having continued from time to time, to add to them, and lie in heaps one upon the other, the Sun in the end hath not had power to break them, and in succession of time this way hath been stopt up, and the communication of Iseland with Old Groenlandt lost.</blockquote>

Greenland - Revision history

Admin: /* 1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome */