Report of the First Thuie Expedition 1912. 309 



the camp, where Freuchen, it need hardly be said, was anxiously 

 awaiting our return, 



Down the great waterfalls. 11 — 16 May. 



We have now to decide which route to take on leaving here. 

 We have evidently not yet reached the base of Danmarks Fjord, 

 where, as we know from Jørgen Brønlund's diary, the descent is 

 an easy matter enough. In order to get there, we shall have to move 

 up on to the inland ice once more, and probably drive for about a 

 day towards the south east. This would be the most satisfactory way 

 to manage, and if only we had fresh dogs to work with we should 

 not hesitate for a moment. Our teams are, however, at present so 

 exhausted that it would be a very risky thing to ask of them now to 

 haul up on to the inland ice again and a good way over it in order' 

 to reach the level where we could shape a course for the innermost 

 base of the fiord; moreover, if we should happen to find ourselves 

 weatherbound there, we should not have enough rations for the dogs. 

 Had we but found game at once, and in sufficient quantities, so that 

 they could have had a ten days' rest with plenty of fresh meat, it 

 would be a different matter. As it is, we have spent eight days get- 

 ting nine musk ox, a poor provision for some fifty hungry dogs. And 

 instead of resting, they have been forced to haul the sledges over 

 bare and difficult ground. No wonder, then, that they are out of 

 form, and they will need nursing if we are to get forward at all, not 

 to speak of getting home again. 



We hold the usual council of war, and arrive at the unanimous 

 conclusion that we must go down, over the waterfalls and the 

 lakes, and through the great valley, which we have now called 

 Zig-Zag Valley on account of its many twists and turns. The ground 

 falls away so sharply down through the valley that it seems evident 

 we are not far from the sea. Nevertheless we must be prepared for 

 a hard fight to get there, as we have already learned that there is 

 but little game to be found. It takes a long trudge and a keen search 

 to hit on musk ox here. We comfort ourselves, however, with the 

 thought that as long as we keep down on the land, there is always 

 some chance of game. Moreover, the work of getting down over the 

 waterfalls will not affect the dogs, but only ourselves, as everything 

 will have to be lowered down, just as before, at the edge of the in- 

 land ice. 



We have lost one day already since we came back after finding 

 the musk ox, a snowstorm having, as usual, raged over the barren 

 moraine country, keeping us weatherbound. Today it is calm, with 

 snow falling, and we are glad of the change, which means better 

 going over the bare plains. The smooth surface of the river too, will 

 be none the Avorse for being a thought less slippery. 



