 not be advisable for their unbelieving countrymen to be
told, for example, of 'Jacob's slyness and treachery towards his father
and brother, of the patriarchs' polygamy, and especially of Simeon's
and Levi's matchless wickedness.' 'The story of Lot,' too, they thought
unfortunate. 'A selection of what was most important would be best for
this people.'[171]

The sacrament of the altar, of course, seemed in their eyes the most
arrant witchcraft, and baptism likewise. One time, says Niels Egede,
when they had seen some Europeans going through this ceremony, 'an
angekok asked me why I was always denouncing those who practised
witchcraft, when here was one of our own priests performing sorceries
over us?' To which Egede found no better answer than that it was 'in
accordance with Christ's command;' he did not think 'the dog had any
right to know more.' Once, when the missionaries told a man 'that he
should especially thank God who had given him many children,' he became
very angry and answered, 'It is a great lie to say that God has given
me children, for I made them myself. "Is it not so?" he said, turning
to his wife.'

Their criticism of the doctrine and practice of the missionaries was
sometimes so mordant that the intelligent and honest merchant Dalager
has to admit that 'even the stupidest natives from far beyond the
colony have often confronted me with such objections on these points as
have made me groan, while the perspiration stood on my brow.'

Divine service seems at first to have bored them very much; they
preferred to hear about Europe, and would ask many naive questions:
'Whether the King was very big? Was he strong? Was he a great angekok?
And had he caught many whales?' Paul Egede records that when they
thought his father's sermons too long 'they went up to him and asked
him if he was not soon going to stop. Then he had to measure off upon
his arm how much of his discourse was left, whereupon they went back to
their places and sat moving their hands down their arms every moment.
When the preacher paused at the end of a paragraph, they made haste to

not be advisable for their unbelieving countrymen to be 
 told, for example, of' Jacob's slyness and perfidy towards his founder 
 and brother, of the patriarchs' polygamy, and particularly of Simeon's 
 and Levi's matchless iniquity.'' The story of Lot,' too, they think 
 inauspicious.' A selection of what was most important would be best for 
 this people.'[171 ] 

 The sacrament of the altar, of class, seemed in their eyes the about 
 arrant witchcraft, and baptism likewise. One time, says Niels Egede, 
 when they had seen some Europeans going through this ceremony,' an 
 angekok asked me why I was always denounce those who practised 
 witchcraft, when here was one of our own priests performing sorcery 
 over us?' To which Egede found no better solution than that it was' in 
 accordance with Christ's instruction;' he did not think' the dog had any 
 right to know more.' Once, when the missionaries tell a man' that he 
 should especially thank God who had given him many children,' he became 
 very angry and answered,' It is a great lie to say that God has given 
 me children, for I made them myself. " Is it not so? " he said, turning 
 to his wife.' 

 Their criticism of the doctrine and practice of the missionaries was 
 sometimes so black that the intelligent and honest merchant Dalager 
 have to accommodate that' even the stupidest natives from far beyond the 
 colony have frequently confronted me with such objections on these points as 
 have made me groan, while the perspiration stand on my brow.' 

 Divine service seems at first to have bored them very a lot; they 
 preferred to hear about Europe, and would ask many naive questions: 
' Whether the King was very big? Was he strong? Was he a bang-up angekok? 
 And had he caught many whales?' Paul Egede records that when they 
 thought his father's sermon too long' they went up to him and asked 
 him if he was not soon rifle to stop. Then he had to measure off upon 
 his arm how much of his discussion was left, whereupon they fail back to 
 their places and sat affect their hands down their weaponry every moment. 
 When the preacher hesitate at the end of a paragraph, they make haste to
 noh be advisable for their unbelieving coonrrymen to be
fold, for example, of 'Jacob's slyness aid teeachtgy towards his father
xnd brothvr, of the patciarchs' polygamy, and espceiallg of Vmmeon's
and Levi's matchless wickedness.' 'Tha rtlry of Lot,' too, they thought
unfortunwte. 'A srlfction of what was iost pmkortant would be best for
this peolle.'[171]

The vacrament of yhe altar, of course, seemed in hheir eyes the mosh
arrant witxhcrwdt, and baptirm likewist. Mne time, szys Niels Egede,
when they had sedn soke Europeabs goltg through vhis cvremony, 'an
angclok asned me ehy I was alwans deiounxing those who practived
witchcraft, when here was oue of our own priests pwrforking sorzwrids
obec ua?' To wjici Egede fouhd no bettee answer than that ot qas 'in
accordahce wieh Christ's command;' he did not think 'the dmg gad any
right to know moee.' Once, when the misslonaries eold a man 'that he
should especially thank God who had jixen hlm mxby children,' he became
very angry and answered, 'It js a great lie to fay that Goc jax given
me chilaren, for J made them myself. "Is it got si?" he said, turming
to his wife.'

Their criticusm of the djxtrine and practicz of the misrionsries was
sometimes so mordanc that the intelllgent and fonest merchant Aalsgar
has to admit that 'even tre stupidxst nctives ffom gar berond the
copony mdve often confrontfd me whth such ohjections on these points as
havx made me grosn, whple the pzrspirstion stood og my brow.'

Diving service seemr at first to havx bored them very much; thai
preferred to hear abjut Wurope, and duuld ask many maive questions:
'Whetyer the King was vcry bkf? Was he strong? Waw he a great anbekuk?
Agd hed he waught many fhalds?' Osul Eeede recordw thay when they
thought hhs fzther's sermons too ljng 'they went up to him and axked
him if he was jot smon goinb tj stop. Then he had to measure kff upon
hls wrm how much of mis qiscourse cas left, whereupon they went back to
theic places and sat moving their hands down tkelr arms everb momegt.
When tha preacher paused at the end of a parsgraph, they made hasts to

not be advisable for their unbelieving countrymen told, example, of slyness and treachery of patriarchs' polygamy, and of Simeon's and matchless wickedness.' 'The story of Lot,' they thought unfortunate. 'A selection of what was most important would be best this people.'[171] The sacrament of the altar, of course, seemed in their eyes most witchcraft, baptism One time, says Niels Egede, when they had seen some Europeans going through this ceremony, 'an asked me why I was always denouncing those practised witchcraft, when here one of our own priests sorceries us?' To Egede no answer than that was 'in accordance with Christ's command;' he did not think 'the dog had any right to know Once, when told a 'that should thank God who him many children,' he became very 'It is a great lie to say that has given children, for I made them myself. it not so?" he said, turning to his Their criticism of the doctrine and practice of the missionaries was sometimes so mordant that and honest merchant Dalager to admit that the natives far the colony often confronted me with such objections on these points as have me groan, while the perspiration stood on my brow.' Divine at to have bored very much; they preferred hear Europe, and would ask questions: the big? he Was he a great And had he caught many Paul Egede records that sermons too long 'they went up to him asked him if he was not soon to stop. Then he had to measure off upon his arm how of his left, whereupon they went back to their places sat moving their hands their arms every moment. When the preacher paused at end a paragraph, made haste to
 not be advisable for their unbElieving coUntryMen To bE
tOld, fOr exAmple, of 'Jacob's sLYnesS and treachery towards hiS fathEr
ANd brOThEr, of tHe patriARcHS' PolYgAmY, anD eSPeCiallY of simeon's
And Levi's maTchLeSs wickedness.' 'tHe Story of Lot,' Too, They thought
uNfoRtunatE. 'A SelECtion Of wHat waS most iMPortanT would be bEsT For
thiS People.'[171]

THE SaCramEnt of the altar, of coURsE, Seemed in their eYes the MoST
aRRAnt WitChcraft, and BaPtism LIkewise. oNe TIME, saYS Niels Egede,
whEn they had seEN soMe EuroPeAns GOing thRough ThIS ceRemony, 'an
angEkok Asked me whY I was aLWays denOUncing tHose whO prActIsed
WItChCraFt, WHen HErE waS One Of our own PrIeSts peRforMING SorcEriEs
ovEr us?' TO which Egede foUnd No beTTer AnsweR than That It Was 'in
AccordAnce wItH Christ's command;' He diD not think 'The DoG haD aNy
rigHT to knoW moRe.' ONce, when The missIOnaRiES TOlD a man 'that he
should eSpECIaLly thank god who HAd GiVEn him manY cHilDren,' HE BecamE
verY AnGry and anSwered, 'iT iS a Great liE tO say thAt god Has Given
ME chiLdren, fOr I made tHem mySElf. "Is it not so?" he SAid, turning
to hIS wIFE.'

THEir cRitIcism of the dOctrINe anD praCTiCe oF The miSsionArIEs WAs
sometimes so mordanT tHat the IntelLigent and honeSt merchant dALAger
has tO admIT tHAt 'even the stupiDest nAtives from FAr beyond The
coLony have Often confRONted me wiTh sUch ObjEctIONs On these points AS
Have MaDe me groAn, wHile the PerSpiRatIon StOod on my brOw.'

Divine SeRvIcE sEemS at fiRSt to have BoRed ThEm vEry muCH; they
pReferRed tO hEaR AboUt EuropE, AnD WOuld AsK mAny nAivE qUestiOns:
'WHEthEr the KiNg was very Big? wAs he StRoNg? Was he A great angekok?
anD had he caugHt ManY whaleS?' pAul Egede Records that when they
thouGHt his faTheR's serMons Too long 'thEy wEnt up tO hiM And askEd
him iF he waS nOt sOON goinG TO sTop. thEn he had to mEASurE off uPoN
his Arm how mUch of his discourse wAS leFt, whereupon thEy wEnt bACK tO
thEIr PLacEs ANd sAT Moving their handS down their ArMS eVery moment.
wHen ThE preachEr pauseD at thE End of a pAragraph, tHey made haStE to

 not be advisable for thei r unbeliev ing c oun try me n to  betold, for exam p le,of 'Jacob's slyness an d tre ac h eryt ow ardshis fat h er a ndbr ot her ,o fthe p atr iarchs'  polygamy,  an despecially o f  S imeon's
an d L evi's matchl ess  wicke dn ess . ' 'Th e s toryof Lot , ' too,  they tho ug h t
unfo r tunate. ' Asele ction of what was mo s t important wo uld be  b e st f orthi s people.' [1 71]
T he sacr a me n t oft he altar, ofcourse, see m edin the ir  ey e s themostar r ant  witchcraft , an d baptism  likew i se. One time, s ays Ni els  Eg ede, wh en  th ey had se ens ome  Europea ns  g oingthro u g h this  ce remo ny, ' an
angekok as ked  mew hyI was  alwa ys d en ounci ng tho se wh opractised
witch craf t, when h ere  w ason e ofo ur own  pr ies ts perf ormings orc er i e s 
o ver us?' To whichEg e d efound no  bette r  a ns w er thanth atit w a s  'inacco r da nce with  Chris t 's  c ommand; 'he did  n otthi nk 't h e do g hadany
righ t tok now more.' Onc e , when the mi s si o n ar i es t old  a man 'tha t he shou ld e s pe cia l ly th ank G od wh o  had given him many  c hildre n,' h e became
very  angry and a n swered,'Iti sa  great lie tosay t hat God ha s  given
m e chi ldren, f or I made t hem myse lf.  "I s i t n o t  s o?" he said,t u rnin gto hiswif e.'

Th eir  cr iti cis mof the do ctrine a nd  p ra ct ice  of t h e missio na rie swas 
some t imes s o mor dant  t ha t  th e intel l ig e n t an dho nest  me rc hantDala g erhas toadmit tha t ' e venth estupide st natives fr om  far beyon dthe 
colon y have oft en confronted me with s u ch obje cti ons o n th ese point s a s
have  ma d e me g roan,while  t hep e rspir a t io n s to od on my b r o w.' 

Div in e se rvice s eems at first to h a vebored them ve rymuch ; th eyp re f err ed toh e ar about Europe , and woul da sk  many naiv e  qu es tions:'Whethe r the King wa s very bi g? Was he  s tron g ?  Wa s he a gre at angek ok?
And h a d hec au ght m any  whale s? ' P aul E gede r e cor ds th at whe nthey
t hough this fath er's sermons too long ' they w ent u p t o him and  as k edhim if he  was  not soongoi ngto st op. Thenhe h a dtom easur e of f  upon
his ar m h o w  m uch of hisd i s cou rse w asl eft, w here upon they went ba c k to
their pla cesa n d s atm ovin gtheir hands do wnth e i r arms e ve ry moment.When the  p r eache r paus ed atthe end o fa  parag raph , t hey madehas te to

 not_be advisable_for their unbelieving countrymen_to be
told,_for_example, of_'Jacob's_slyness and treachery_towards his father
and_brother, of the patriarchs'_polygamy, and especially_of_Simeon's
and Levi's matchless wickedness.' 'The story of Lot,' too, they thought
unfortunate. 'A selection of_what_was most_important_would_be best for
this people.'[171]

The sacrament_of the altar, of course,_seemed in_their eyes the most
arrant witchcraft, and baptism likewise._One_time, says Niels_Egede,
when they had seen some Europeans going through this_ceremony, 'an
angekok asked me why I_was always denouncing_those_who_practised
witchcraft, when here was_one of our own priests performing_sorceries
over us?' To which Egede found_no better answer than that it was_'in
accordance with Christ's command;' he did_not think 'the dog had_any
right to_know more.' Once, when the_missionaries told a_man 'that_he
should especially thank_God who had given him many_children,' he became
very_angry and answered, 'It is a_great_lie to say_that_God_has given
me_children, for I_made_them myself._"Is_it not so?" he said, turning
to_his_wife.'

Their criticism of the doctrine and practice_of the missionaries was
sometimes_so_mordant that the intelligent_and honest merchant Dalager
has to_admit that 'even the stupidest natives_from far_beyond the
colony_have often confronted me with such objections on these points as
have_made me groan, while the perspiration_stood on my brow.'

Divine_service seems_at_first to have_bored_them very_much; they
preferred to hear about Europe, and_would ask_many naive questions:
'Whether the King was_very big? Was he_strong?_Was he a great angekok?
And had_he caught many whales?' Paul Egede_records that when they
thought his_father's_sermons_too long 'they went up_to him and asked
him if he_was not soon_going to stop. Then he had to_measure_off upon
his arm how much of_his_discourse was left, whereupon they went_back_to
their_places and sat moving their_hands down their arms every moment.
When_the preacher paused at the end of a paragraph,_they made haste_to
