310 THE G1<]HMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



was convinced, and is now more so than ever, that in 

 that quarter any considerable advance by ship to tlie 

 north would be as impossible as from the north of Spitz- 

 bergen. " Under the most favourable circuirsta^nces," so 

 says Captain Koldewey, " we could only make some 

 explorations in Nova-Zembla, and take some hydrogra- 

 phical observations vv^hieh, however unimportant they 

 might be, would bear no proportion to the cost of the 

 undertaking; whilst on the coast of East Greenland, if 

 even the conjecture of open coast water to the north 

 should not prove true, we might, after breaking through 

 the icy belt, make some important and satisfactory 

 discoveries.*' 



That the Hansa had not been able to reach the coast 

 was unfortunate, as it weakened our community ; but 

 from that circumstance we found ourselves deprived of 

 a larger supply of coal so necessary for our boilers ; and 

 not knowing how much fuel we might want during the 

 winter, we were obliged to use the utmost economy, and 

 only employ steam power on urgent occasions. Had the 

 Hansa been with us, nothing would have prevented us, 

 after the first failure, in the attempt to reach the north 

 in the middle of August, from steaming at once south- 

 Vv^ard with the Germania. Our sister ship could have 

 remained at Shannon Island, Eight days would have 

 sufficed us to explore the whole land of Gael Hamkes Bay, 

 which at this time was free from ice, and then return to 

 the north; whilst, in the meantime, the Hansa would 

 have begun and finished the exploration of Shannon 

 Island. The coming spring proved still more what a 

 pity it was that the Hansa did not reach the coast. We 

 were really too feeble, even with our greatest exertions, 



