DEPOSITING A RECORD. 437 



continuation of the coast, as arbitrarily represented on 

 charts for many years past. 



A feeling of awe steals over the most thoughtless 

 when his feet stands on virgin ground, and there lies 

 before him a world on which, from the beginning of time, 

 no European eye. has ever rested. 



The North- German and Austrian flags fluttered in a light 

 north wind peaceably side by side. We erected a cairn, 

 which will doubtless remain ' unmoved, though perhaps 

 never again seen to the end of time, and placed inside it 

 a box containing a short account of our voyage. The 

 document ran thus : "This spot, which lies in 7T V 

 North Lat. and 18° 50' West Long, from Greenwich, was 

 reached by the German Arctic Expedition in sledges (the 

 last three German miles on foot) starting from the winter 

 harbour by Sabine Island, after an absence from the ship 

 of twenty-two days." 



The storms, which for eight days kept us in the 

 tent, and partly the great difficulties of the journey, as well 

 as the want of provisions, prevented us from advancing 

 further. The coast which falls off rugged to the east 

 stretches into a plateau for about 1500 feet further 

 to the north. The sea, as far as the eye could reach 

 (about seventy-five miles) offered one continuous surface 

 of ice. The land ice, w^hich is perfectly free from lumps, 

 and is and has to all appearances been fast for years, 

 stretches at least ten miles from the coast. The weather 

 was very clear at sea, particularly to the east, in which 

 not a sign of water was perceptible. 

 ■ Good Friday, 15th April, 1870. 



Karl Koldewey, Commander of the Expedition ; Julius 

 Payer, first-lieutenant ; Thomas Klentzer, Peter Ellinger, 



