The Arctic Station at Thule, North Star Bay 



N. Greenland. 



BEFORE proceeding to the actual account of the expedition, it may 

 perhaps not be out of place to preface the same with some in- 

 troductory remarks as to my station at Thule in North Star Bay, 

 N. Greenland, the most northerly permanent arctic station in the 

 world. The reasons for founding this settlement were as follows: 



Throughout all the years during which Admiral Peary from time 

 to time visited the Cape York district, he availed himself, on his 

 expeditions, of the services of the natives, requiting them with gifts, 

 the products of civilisation, consisting mainly of arms and ammuni- 

 tion. In addition to this, he also traded with them, in consequence 

 of which, the population gradually emerged from the palæolithic con- 

 ditions under which they had hitherto been accustomed to live, and 

 learned to regard certain extraneous commodities, especially in the 

 way of tools and implements, as indispensable. 



Admiral Peary's dealings with the natives were, it should be 

 noted, invariably characterised by a sense of responsibility which I 

 have frequently had occasion to admire. 



After Admiral Peary's last journey, however, in the course of 

 which he reached the Pole, it seemed scarcely probable that he 

 would again return, and some anxiety was felt lest the people with 

 whom he had previously had intercourse in the district in question 

 should now, being left to their own devices, and without responsible 

 authority, fall a prey to demoralising influences. These considerations 

 naturally gave rise to the idea of founding a settlement which should, 

 on the one hand, benefit the natives by providing a link with civil- 

 isation, and at the same time, as a scientific research station, furnish 

 a base of operations for sledging and other expeditions in North 

 Greenland and Arctic North America, as well as a place of residence 

 for scientists wishing to undertake local investigations. 



The station was set up at the expense of private individuals, 

 especially by contributions from the late Mr. Adam Biering, a Danish 

 civil engineer then resident abroad, to whom I am most deeply in- 

 debted for his unstinting confidence and support. 



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