Page:A description of Greenland.djvu/250

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202
The Natural Hiſtory

bulations thoſe have to ſtruggle with, who deſire to attain to Happineſs.


CHAP. XX.

The Greenlanders Aſtronomy, or their Thoughts concerning the Sun, Moon, Stars and Planets.


Greenland Tales of the Origin of the Stars and Planets.The Notions the Greenlanders have of the Origin of heavenly Lights, as Sun, Moon, and Stars, are very nonſenſical; in that they pretend that they have formerly been ſo many of their Anceſtors, who, on different Accounts, were lifted up to Heaven and became ſuch glorious Celeſtial Bodies.

The Sun and Moon formerly Greenlanders, Brother and Siſter.Their ſilly Stories concerning this Matter have been related in the Continuation to the Greenland Memoirs, or Relations; but as this Book, very likely, may not come to the Hands of every Body, I ſhall ſhortly remember ſome of them here. The Moon, as they will have it, has been a young Man,

called