THE countries near the North Pole are said to be in what is called the Arctic or frigid zone. They
are very cold, and their winter lasts nearly all the year round. Except for a few weeks in the summer, the ground is covered with snow, and the sea so blocked with floating ice that ships cannot sail over it, and are sometimes crushed between the icebergs.
“Before we get into the frozen zone let us stop for a little while at an island. Its present name is Iceland, but more than a thousand years ago the pirates, or sea robbers, who first landed on its shores, called it Snow land.
“It is said that one of their ships was caught in a great storm, and driven before the gale till at last it ran ashore on a rocky island, where everything seemed covered with snow. When the weather became calm, the pirates were able to return to their own country, which was, I am almost sure, Norway, where a cruel and powerful king at that time reigned. The pirates talked a great deal about the strange land they had visited, and before long some of the nobles thought it would be a good thing if they could get away from Norway, and find new homes for themselves and their families on the island of which they had so often heard.
“But Snow land, as the pirates had named it, was a long way from Norway. The mariner's compass, the great use of which is to guide the sailor across the sea, had not been invented, and no one seemed to know how to steer a vessel to its shores.
“At last one of their own countrymen, whose name was Flovo, said he would go and look for Snow land. He took three ravens with him, and after sailing north for a few days, he let one of the ravens fly. It turned in the direction the ship had come, and was soon out of sight. Then Flovo knew that he was nearer to the coast of Norway than to the island he was seeking. So he sailed on for two or three days, and let the second bird loose. It flew about overhead for a few moments and settled down in the rigging.
“Still on and on the ship went, till at last Flovo thought it must be time to set the last raven free. It flew right away to land, and we may be sure that those on board ship were very glad to follow its flight.
“It was in the year A.D. 874 that Iceland was first inhabited, and a busy time the first settlers must have had, cutting down trees, building huts, and doing many other things. They found part of the island covered with rocks, and a quantity of substance called lava. I once saw a piece of lava, so can tell you what it is like. It is quite black like coal, only much harder. But where does the lava come from?
“From burning mountains called volcanoes. It looked something like melted pitch when it was thrown out from a deep hole, called a crater, in the top of the mountain, long, long ago. There must have been quite a number of volcanoes in Iceland. But now there is only one, mount Hecla, and it has not thrown out stones and melted lava for some years.
The fire has not gone out, and is always at work, though often out of sight. Sometimes it meets with water, and the water gets hot, so very hot that at last it boils, and when it finds an opening rushes out, and rises into the air like a fountain. These boiling springs are called geysers. In some of the streams and brooks in Iceland the water is always so hot that people who live near are able to do their washing and cooking in the open air.
“I have no doubt that the children quite enjoy eating a dinner cooked or eggs boiled out of doors, and I hope they do not forget to ask the blessing of the Lord on their food. Though the people who first went to live in Iceland were heathen, and offered human beings, sometimes even little children, upon the altars of the idols they served, yet the gospel was carried to them by christian teachers who settled there, and after sowing-time came harvest, and the missionaries had the joy of seeing many Icelanders turn from idols to the true God and His Son the Lord Jesus Christ; and since then the inhabitants have had Bibles and day and Sunday schools.
“But we must not talk any more about Iceland, as I want us to travel still further north, to ‘Greenland's icy mountains.' All along the coast we shall find a strange race of people, ‘the Eskimo.' Some writers say the name means ‘eaters of raw flesh.' And though we cannot really cross the ice-fields and see them for ourselves, we may learn many things about them from the writings of those who have sailed over Polar seas.
“Captain John Ross, who was more than once obliged to spend a winter in the Arctic regions, tells us that a large party of Eskimo, armed with knives and spears, came very near the ship.
“He felt it would be best to treat them with kindness and confidence. So he and some of his officers went on shore to meet them; when they were near enough to speak they laid down their guns and advanced unarmed.
“The Eskimo, seeing what they had done, were much pleased, and threw away their knives, shouting, ‘Aja Tuma,' a cry of welcome. They soon became very friendly, bringing seals, furs, and many other things which they were much pleased to sell or exchange for beads, knives, pieces of hoop iron, &c.
“During their long winters, many of the Eskimo live in huts, built of snow. A little light finds its way into the hut through a window of ice, but as we must remember that night in Greenland lasts for many weeks, an oil lamp with a wick of dried moss is kept always burning. These lamps not only give light, but serve as cooking stoves.
“Those who have been inside these huts tell us they are very warm and comfortable, though we should think a bank of snow, covered by seal-skin, rather a strange sleeping place, I have no doubt. Men, women, and even little children wear coats or dresses made of fur. When an. Eskimo wishes to cross the ice he harnesses reindeer or dogs to his sledge. The sledge has runners of bone and is covered with skins.
“The dogs are not unlike wolves, but are easily tamed, and soon learn to obey the voice or hand of their master.
“Much time is spent by the Eskimo in the capture of seals, and even boys of ten or twelve years of age often take part in a seal hunt. As seals are said to be very quick of hearing, the hunter must approach their feeding ground very quietly. Some times he will hide himself behind a wall of snow and wait for hours before throwing his harpoon.
“The native boats or canoes are very curious, being only large enough to hold one person, and so snugly covered with skins, that not a drop of water can find its way in.
“And now we must say good-bye to the 'Children of Many Lands,' but as we lay down the book and run off to our lessons or our play, I should like to ask one question of each dear young reader, Dost thou believe on the Son of God?' (John 9:3535Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on the Son of God? (John 9:35)), or in other words, Do you know the Lord Jesus as your very own Savior?”
THE END
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