330 THE FRIENDLY ARCTIC 



estimates would not be out as to either latitude or longitude by 

 more than two miles at the most. 



We got up early in the morning of the 19th — ordinarily we were 

 sleeping daytimes and traveling at night — and were able to secure 

 an indifferent time sight, for the sun was faintly visible through 

 clouds. But at noon we got no latitude sight and in the afternoon 

 no confirmatory time sight. We could not wait longer. 



Before leaving we heaped up gravel into a mound three or four 

 feet high and placed in it the following record: 



"June 20,2 A. M. 

 "This land was first seen, so far as I know, by Storker Storkerson 

 of the Canadian Arctic Expedition, June 18, 1915, at 2 A. M. from a 

 point on the ice distant from the cairn where this record is left about 

 fourteen miles due west (true). From an ice cake about 40 ft. high, 

 land was seen extending from E x N to NE x E. The first man to land 

 here was Ole Andreasen of the same Expedition at 1 :50 A. M. June 19th. 

 "By authority especially vested in me for that purpose, I have to-day 

 hoisted the flag of the Empire and have taken possession of the land 

 in the name of His Majesty King George V on behalf of the Dominion 

 of Canada. 



"Vilhjalmur Stefansson, 



"Commander, 

 "Canadian Arctic Expedition, 



"Witnesses: Storker Storkerson, Ole Andreasen, Karl Thomsen." 



"Party, dogs (13) and equipment, all well. Shall proceed eastward 

 along this coast some distance, should it prove extensive, and then south 

 across or around Melville Island to the Expedition headquarters near 

 Cape Kellett, Banks Island. 



V. Stefansson." 



