354 Morten P. Porsild 



The lake had recently been freed from its icy covering, but large 

 masses of ice were lying on the slopes of the river-bed, and the lake 

 was quite devoid of plants. On the 28th we sailed right up to the 

 head of Lakse Fjord, where we investigated the rich and characteristic 

 plant-growth by several excursions in different directions. In the 

 evening of the 29th we sailed to Oriik on the north side of the fjord, 

 investigated the large willow copse from which the place derives its 

 name, and sailed the following day, over Eqaluarsuit, on the south 

 side, to Prøven. 



On July 31 we went from Prøven to the head of Amitsuarsuk 

 Fjord, and investigated the valley there — the first of the series of 

 lakes which stretches thence into the country (they have only in part 

 been included in the maps) — and the basalt mountain north of the 

 head. Thence we sailed to South Upernavik, and on Aug. 2, together 

 with Mr. Dahl, the manager of the "Udsted," made an excursion to 

 Ingnerit Fjord to the place where coal occurred on both sides of the 

 fjord. In the evening we sailed to Maligiak Bay where we anchored 

 for some hours as we were all in need of sleep. On Aug. 3, we were 

 in Tartusaq Bay, on its north-east side, a locality which, on account 

 of its rare plants, undoubtedly deserves to be more thoroughly in- 

 л'estigated than the time at our disposal permitted. An unusual quantity 

 of closely packed icebergs, which were constantly floating westward 

 with the outflowing stream, delayed us and rendered sailing difficult, 

 so that we did not reach Schade's Islands until late in the evening 

 after following a course of many zigzags. The vegetation on one of 

 the largest islands was cursorily investigated on Aug. 4th; then 

 we sailed along the eastern side of Svartenhuk to Safarssuit. Here 

 gatherings were made from the point itself, from some bogs and 

 small lakes lying behind, and from the fossiliferous sand north of 

 the point. Next we sailed into Uvkusigssat Fjord, as far as the cry- 

 stalline slates extend; but along this part we did not notice a single 

 place which appeared to be worth while investigating botanically. 

 The cliff's stood up on both sides with their tall, steep — and appa- 

 rently totally barren — walls facing the fjord. So we turned and 

 sailed down to Igdlorssuit on Ubekendt Eiland, arriving there on 

 Aug. 5. After having made some excursions in the immediate neigh- 

 bourhood of the "Udsted" I had intended to cross over to the sand- 

 stone area on Upernavik Island. But after having had fine weather 

 for several days we then got a stiff breeze from the north into the 

 fjord; therefore I gave up this trip and proceeded instead on our 

 homeward journey via Qaersuarsuk, on the north coast of Nugsuaq. 



