210 Chr. Bendix Thostrup 



is a flat fore-land and the same conditions for open water in the 

 summer as at most other places on the coast. And the hunting — 

 especially bear hunting — is good. 



Our people (Gustav Thostrup and Dr. Wegener) did not have 

 the opportunity of examining the shores, but the3^ do not doubt the 

 presence of Eskimo remains there. 



There might possibly be a settlement here, which owing to the 

 difficulty of passing Mallemukfjeldet should be considered as a di- 

 strict by itself. 



The fjord north of Lamberts Land — Nioghalvfjerdsfjorden — 

 is believed not to be suitable for occupation. Mylius-Erichsen de- 

 scribes these parts in a letter to the Second-in-command of the Ex- 

 pedition as follows: 



"Lat 80° 09'. -Ч4О7. We are now face to face with some miles' of 



the worst screw-ice. 



Large, open channels to tlie east and west, right in to tlie coast. 



There is a bird cliff liere. 



Between lat. 79° and lat. 80° numerous bears give birth to their youngs. 



Saw musk-ox excrement from the summer-time at lat. 79° 08'. Shot 8 

 hares, 6 ptarmigan and 9 l)ears. — — " 



Between lat. ca. 79° and lat. ca. 78° we were not able to examine 

 the coast of the mainland very closely, but it did not apppear to be 

 inhabitable. The local conditions seemed to be such, that the pos- 

 sibilities of existence — even for so easily satisfied people as the 

 Eskimos — are hardly present. 



Jøkelbugten, which practically dominates this region, with its 

 covering of "inland-ice outflow" does not tempt one to stay a long 

 time, even if — though with dificulty — it can be traversed with 

 dog-sledges. It is not probable, therefore, that traces of the Eskimos 

 will be found anywhere here. 



The wanderings and journeys of these have apparently taken 

 place along the east side of the row of islands, which bound Jøkel- 

 bugten towards the sea. On our Expedition these islands were spec- 

 ially visited by Bistrup and Ring, without finding any stone remains 

 how^ever. But this was probably due in part to their somewhat forced 

 journey along the snow-covered land, and not least to the fact, that 

 the islands have probably been mostly visited by Eskimos whilst 

 journeying, when they set up their tents on the ice, thus leaving no 

 permanent sign. 



According to the information given by Bistrup, however, the 

 east and south sides of a few islands, especially the Norske Øer, 

 are well suited for a tent place, as the land is low here and reaches 

 right to the screw-ice or the open water. A visit when the land is 



' Danish miles. 



