GEOGRAPHY. 481 



sites of the ancient Norse colonies. The expenses of the journey were 

 defrayed by the munificence of Mr. Oscar Dickson. A large party of 

 scientific experts accompanied Baron Nbrdenskjold, sailing from Goth 

 enburg, on May 23, in a small steamer of 180 tons called the Sofia, and 

 arriving at Iceland June 1. After coaling, the ship sailed for Southern 

 Greenland, and on July 4 an ice party started inland from Auleitswik 

 fiord, but were prevented from advancing with sledges nearer than about 

 90 miles to the border of the glaciers by soft snow; but the Laplanders, 

 who had been taken for the purpose, advanced 140 miles farther on 

 snow-shoes over a snow desert at a height of 7,000 feet. Baron Nor- 

 denskjold reports the whole inland covered with ice, with quantities of 

 fine dust, which he considers as cosmical. The party landed twice on 

 the east coast, but found it ice-bound almost everywhere. Some relics 

 of the ancient colonists were said to be found. The predictions of Baron 

 JSTordenskjold that the interior of Greenland would be found free of ice 

 were therefore not verified. The expedition returned by way of Iceland, 

 arriving at Thurso early in September. 



A Danish expedition, under command of Lieutenant Holm, has also 

 been engaged in exploring the east coast of Greenland during the sum- 

 mer of 1883. Several extensive fiords were discovered, and the charts 

 as far north as latitude 61°, where the work terminated, will be seriously 

 modified by the survey. After the summer's work was done winter 

 quarters were prepared at Nanortalik, where meteorological and mag' 

 netic observatories were established. The same party will continue 

 their work of exploration and survey during 1884. 



H. Mis. 69 31 



