Page:A description of Greenland.djvu/225

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of Greenland.
177

Bones, Rain-Deer Hides, Fox and Seal-Skins, which are of more Value than the Iceland or Feroe? And, if the Produce and Commodities of Greenland were formerly reckoned of that Importance, that they were deem'd ſufficient to maintain the King's Table: Why not alſo at preſent? provided Greenland may by Settlements and Improvement retrieve its former Abundance, which is not impoſſible.

The old forſaken Lands ought to be ſettled a-new with Inhabitants and Cattle.If the old Lands, formerly inhabited and manured by the Norway Colonies, were anew peopled with Men and Cattle; they would, without doubt, yield as much as either Iceland or Feroe, ſeeing there is as good Paſture-Ground as in thoſe Iſlands. I ſhall forbear to mention Salmon and Cod-Fiſhing, as it ſeems at preſent to be but of little or not Importance, eſpecially on the Weſt-Side; though I am credibly informed by the Natives, that on the Souther Coaſt they catch abundance of fine large Cods. Whale and Seal Fiſhery very profitable.Yet this may be more than ſufficiently compenſated by the Whale-Fiſhery on the North,
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