CONCLUSION. 



Let us now sum up tlie results of the second German 

 Arctic Expedition, in reference to the light thrown npon 

 the Arctic question by the voyage of the Germania and 

 Hansa : — 



1. Uninterrupted, open coast- water, along the coast of 

 East Greenland has been proved not to exist ; it has been 

 shown that the coast-water is dependent upon local 

 circumstances, and that the ice-current brings down its 

 masses, even when the ice is at its loosest, to every pro- 

 jecting point of the coast. 



2. East Greenland has been proved not to form a suit- 

 able basis for reaching the North Pole, even setting aside 

 the possibility of reaching a higher latitude by ship along 

 the coast, in favourable years. 



3. On the other hand, by inquiries into the geology, 

 natural history, and climate of the country itself, and by 

 the investigation of the large Fjords and their extent 

 north and south, a new basis for promoting further 

 Arctic discoveries has been created, promising rich results 

 which may eventually materially assist in solving the 

 Arctic problem ; more so than any advance on the high 

 sea could have done. 



4. No important advance into the ice, nor any con- 

 siderable scientific result essentially belonging to the land 

 is to be reckoned upon without the firm support of the 

 coast ; and without winterinf^ and erecting stations for 



