CHAPTER III. 



SHANNON ISLAND, WITH THE TELL-PLATTE AND KLEIN- 

 PENDULUM. 



Situation, extent, and character of Shannon Island. — Freeden Bay. — 

 Exploration and mcasni'ement of Shannon Island. — Basaltic 

 columns. — Arctic fox. — Esquimaux dwellings. — Unsuspected 

 neighbourhood of the Hansa. — Sledge journey of Lieutenant Payer 

 to the Tell-Platte. — A polar bear. — Difficulty in advancing. — 

 Ascent of the Tell-Platte. — -Beautiful prospect of the Greenland 

 Coast. — Low temperature. — Return of Dr. Borgen's excursion to 

 Klein-Pendulum. — Esquimaux utensils. — The Stufenberg. 



Shannon Island, wliich, according to our reckoning, 

 stretches from 74° 56' to 75° 26' N. Lat., is tlie lowest 

 of all the large islands within the range of our coasting. 

 In the north it reaches the considerable height of 305.2 

 metres, equal to 972 Rhenish feet ^ (barometrical measure- 

 ment). To the east and south, however, the hills scarcely 

 exceed 500 feet; and the remaining portion of the 

 island rises but a few feet above the level of the sea. On 

 the south side is a somewhat important creek, which 

 we named Freeden Bay ; whilst in the north-east is a 

 still deeper Fjord, stretching so far into the interior of the 

 island as almost to reach Freeden Bay, so that the island 

 is divided into two very unequal parts. Upon the 

 Avhole, the shores of these bays are very low, and, as far 



' About 940 English feet. . (Tr.) 



