290 THE GERMAN AECTIC EXPEDITION. 



and covered witli several low, muddy spots. As we were 

 taking our measurements we saw a musk-ox, wliicli we 

 shot ; we took some of the flesh, and reached the tent by 

 half-past three. 



The 20th of August found us active on the east coast, 

 in the neighbourhood of the basaltic columns. 



For a long time we had seen a large bear in the dis- 

 tance, investigating the row of hummocks, which showed 

 the edge of the land-ice, but it did not seem advisable to 

 follow him. On our return road we saw some snow of a 

 pale reddish colour ; it seeined to be formed of a mixture 

 of red clay or sandstone dust.^ 



On the 21st, as we were exploring more to the south 

 and east, we came upon a small, deep ravine ; it ran close 

 down to the shore, and seemed to be a collecting place 

 for the drift-wood. One tree, which was certainly broken 

 in many places, was at least forty feet long. Under the 

 drift-wood lay the skull of a fine bear, and by the side a 

 jaw-bone, which now was likely to grace some European 

 museum. In the evening we returned on board, as the 

 next day was Sunday. It was not, hoAvever, to be a day 

 of rest, as Captain Koldewey had decided upon sailing 

 to Cape Desbrowe, from this height to study the state of 

 the ice, and look out for the Hansa. We, as well as 

 Lieutenant Payer, Sengstacke, and two sailors, were 

 therefore ao^ain set on shore and left to our fate. The 

 night before, Klentzer, who had slept alone in the tent, 

 had suffered from the intrusion of a fox ; it had fled in to 

 him, and not until after several vain attempts to kill his 

 guest with a bayonet did the creature seek safety in flight. 



" The same appeai-ance was also noticed by some of the Hansa men at 

 the beginning of November. 



