522 THE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



Of other plants may also be mentioned, Polygonum vivi- 

 parmn (L.), Wahlbergella apetala (Fries.), Oxyria, Taraxa- 

 CU711, Potentilla, and Saxlfraga. It was now one o'clock, 

 and we retired to rest. Dr. Panscli and Captain Koldewey 

 made the boat their couch, but it was an uneasy one; 

 for as the water sank, it left it leaning on one side on 

 a rock, so that they were rolling down upon each other ; 

 scarcely had they again fallen asleep in this uncomfort- 

 able position, when, with a jerk, the boat fell from the 

 rock, and the whole concern, men, chests, and boxes lay 

 in the water, from which we with difficulty rescued them. 



The south coast of the island was completely beset 

 with ice, partly drifting, and partly firm, and seem- 

 ingly stretching to the southern shore and Jackson 

 Island. To advance further with the boat was absolutely 

 impossible, and our hopes of landing at the Esquimaux 

 village, making a rich ethnological collection, and then 

 exploring the land to the west were destroyed ; and we 

 were at least five German miles from our destination. 



Koldewey then made some astronomical observations, 

 took the necessary steps for observing the tide, and 

 about half-past ten we continued our journey ; with 

 difficulty we sprang from stone to stone, or sought a path 

 more inland. The skeleton of a reindeer attracted our 

 attention ; the skull was still fast to the fore parts of the 

 body, while the hind part lay bleaching at a short distance, 

 and farther on lay the leg bones still hanging together. 



In opposition to this picture of death, our eyes were 

 almost immediately afterwards cheered by blooming life 

 as we continued our way at the feet of the steep 

 mountain chain. Growing among the loose pebbles and 

 in the rocky crevices was the beautiful Polemonium 



