It was a very gay time for Upernivik, probably about the most exciting they ever had. For not only was the Morrissey there but also the Falcon with a crew of sixty, most of whom were ashore much of the time. There was a dance in a big warehouse near the wharf every night, which always lasted until morning. In fact, there just wasn’t any night. In the summer when a boat comes to those far away towns, they forget all about sleeping. Everyone stays up all the time. For the people in the boats it really is pretty hard, for [[97]]the people ashore at least can go to sleep when the boat leaves, while it is just then that the work starts for the travellers.
At Upernivik is the farthest north church in the world, they told me. A new building had just been completed, and on the Sunday we were there it was opened. There was a great crowd, and the Governor wore his high hat and everything. Of course we all went, and to the native wedding that afternoon. The hymns were sung in Eskimo, and there was a long Eskimo sermon. The first church in Upernivik was built away back in 1780.
On the evening of August tenth the Morrissey came back to the harbor. The diver had fixed her up finely. Captain West gave Captain Bartlett a letter saying she was quite seaworthy. So we were very happy, as it meant we could keep on with our trip, which had come so near to ending in disaster. And we decided to go north again, taking Knud Rasmussen to Thule.
Up on the Glacier, where the Great Ice Cap Comes Down to the Sea.
[[98]]
The night before we left they gave us a grand party at Governor Otto’s. All the shutters were closed so the house would be dark. Then, to make it pretty, they lit many candles. Eighteen people crowded into the little dining-room, and there were speeches and quite a fine celebration. I went to bed pretty early but the older people, I think, did not turn in until seven in the morning.
On the Iceland Falcon, the last night, there was another farewell party, Cap’n Bob and Dad dining with Captain West. They loaded on the Morrissey the stores of Dr. Rasmussen and his baggage. He was going back with us all the way to New York, so he had a good deal of clothes and the like.
As we up-anchored and got under way we dipped our flag and fired our biggest rifle three times in salute. Then the Falcon answered with three shots from one of her big guns, and the people on shore fired another salute with their small cannon. Altogether [[99]]it was a very gay send-off. The Governor was out in his big rowboat, waving good-bye to us. Certainly Upernivik could have treated us no better, and we all appreciated it.
And then we headed north again, with Dr. Rasmussen. And we felt mighty lucky to be on our way again, instead of retreating south. Before us lay our third crossing of Melville Bay, which is quite a record for one season.