The Land of Desolation: Being a Personal Narrative of Observation and Adventure in GreenlandHayes, I. I. (Isaac Israel)
History
The Land of Desolation: Being a Personal Narrative of Observation and Adventure in Greenland
Hayes, I. I. (Isaac Israel)
Greenland -- Description and travel; Hayes, I. I. (Isaac Israel), 1832-1881
As he appeared to be of a very simple and gentle nature, I could but
sympathize with him in his present trouble. There could be no doubt
that he looked upon his hopes of happiness as forever gone. He had
discovered his lady-love to be mercenary—her mind carried away by the
Prince’s lavish expenditure of beads, ribbons, and jewelry; and all
this for a young foreigner with a fair face, who could neither shoot
a seal, nor go in a kayak, nor cast a spear! It was altogether most
unaccountable. He seemed to be all the time, and naturally enough,
comparing himself with his rival, to the great disparagement, of
course, of the said rival, else he would not have been a lover, and
with great wonderment as to what she possibly could see to admire in
the other man. That Concordia meant to run off to America, Marcus
evidently did not have a doubt, and his face seemed to indicate
at times that he was capable of any deed of desperation in order
to prevent so dire a catastrophe. Should he spear him, or put a
bullet through him, or any thing of that sort? Especially did his
countenance assume a malignant expression when, upon the homeward
journey, the coquette would break out with her favorite song, the
chorus of which was, “Tesseinowah, tesseinowah,” repeated over and
over again. At this the Prince always manifested great delight, while
Marcus grew correspondingly gloomy.
When we had at length reached Julianashaab, and had thanked the good
pastor, to whom we were so much indebted, and had said “good-night”
to our oarswomen, I took the unhappy Marcus aside to condole with
him. “Are you not,” said I, “son of the head man of Bungetak?”
“Ab,” said Marcus, and I thought a glow of satisfaction overspread
his features at being reminded of his superior parentage.
“Concordia is very pretty,” I continued.
“Ab!” said Marcus again, his countenance falling at the recollection
of his previous hopes and present discomfiture.
I asked him, “Do you know what pretty girls do in my country?”
“Na-mik” (no), he answered, his countenance falling still more at the
further mention of the pretty girl that he had lost.
“When the pretty girl has the chance, she always marries the son of
the head man,” said I.
Then his countenance assumed a joyous expression, and he went his way
with a smile, which said plainly that, if he thought it was not much
to be Marcus, it was good to be the son of the head man of Bungetak.
CHAPTER XII.
THE CHURCH AT JULIANASHAAB.
The day following our return from Krakortok being Sunday, I gladly
availed myself of Mr. Anthon’s invitation to attend service at his
little church.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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