20 INTRODUCTION. 



of degrees in East Greenland, and ascents of the glaciers 

 in the interior, &c., &c. 



In the third, the " Arctic question," with special regard 

 to the late Swedish, Russian, and English voyages of 

 discovery, was discussed. For the better investigation 

 of the Polar Sea, and for reaching the North Pole itself, 

 the following of the coast-line was strictly enjoined, as 

 experience had shown that land is the soonest free from 

 ice, and that along the coast is formed the so-called land 

 water ; the navigation too has a chance of commencing 

 earlier, is comparatively safe, and promises the largest 

 results, as really important scientific discoveries can 

 scarcely be expected without the solid basis of land. 



The Second German Arctic Expedition would there- 

 fore make East Greenland their basis of operations. 

 Even under the greatest difficulties, the results from an 

 investigation of East Greenland, and an extended know- 

 ledge of that still unknown coast, might be expected to 

 mark an epoch in the history of science. 



Sect. 6 ordered that both ships under the command of 

 Captain Karl Koldewey should make direct for the 

 floating ice of East Greenland in about 74|-° N.L., and 

 as soon as possible reach Sabine Island, lying on the east 

 coast in that latitude, and then deliberate on the accessi- 

 bility of the coast from 70° to 79°. 



Sects. 7 and 8 decided as follows : if in 74^° N.L. 

 immediate access to the coast was not possible on ac- 

 count of the ice and the state of the weather, and there 

 was no prospect of being able to reach it in a short time, 

 the attempt must be made farther northward as far as 80° ; 

 if still unsuccessful, to go as low down as 70°, and take 

 advantage of any opening lying between 70° and 80° N.L. 



