2-969-827 - /Heritage Images

Interior of a Greenlander's Hut, 1856. ' In the winter they live in huts built of stones and turf, lined inside with old skins. These huts are lighted and warmed by a lamp placed in front of each sleeping-bench, of which there are from three to six or more in each hut...In summer they pitch their skin-tents in some spot up the fiords where fish is abundant: here they dry their fish and seal flesh for their winter provision...Amongst themselves the Greenlanders have no chiefs or laws; unrestrained freedom exists. Wars and quarrels are unknown amongst them; and even the children, as soon as they can walk, have perfect liberty to act as they like, and vvhat is more remarkable this general liberty is not accompanied by license. More peaceable people cannot anywhere be found'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856.