322 Knud Rasmussen. 



of a channel. Greenland was thus in unbroken connection with Peary- 

 Land. 



For detailed description of the local conditions here, the reader is 

 again referred to Freuchen's work; it will here suffice to mention the 

 effect which this discovery had upon our plans for further progress. 



Naturally enough, our first feeling was one of delight at the dis- 

 covery; we were, however, by no means blind to the fact that the 

 country which now lay before us would place considerable difficulties 

 in our way. 



Cape Schmelck and Nyeboes Glacier. 



The task immediately before us was to get forward into the new 

 country and do as much surveying there as we possibly could. This 

 was not all, however. In order to make our way back to Thule, we 

 should have to make connection with the great main glacier, which 

 from our present position appeared extremely difficult of access. Ny- 

 boes Glacier ended abruptly in an unscalable precipice. Academy 

 Glacier over on the other side was easier to tackle, or at least appeared 

 so when viewed through the glass; this, however, did not help us much, 

 as it was impossible to reach the edge of the glacier on account of a 

 huge chaotic mass of sikussaq. And as for Danmarks Fjord, this was 

 out of the question at the then late season of the year. 



We had thus no alternative but to make our way up over a hill 

 some 800 m. high, then down through hollows with ravines and big, 

 rugged watercourses over a moraine country of stones and clay, some 

 20 — 25 miles in all, only a small part of the highest ground being 

 covered with ice. Ascending this promontory, which we named Cape 

 Schmelck, after the famous Norwegian chemist, we managed to get 

 down some little way along Nyeboes Glacier, from where we could 

 reach both on the new country and the main glacier, which was to 

 be our high road home, always provided we succeeded in finding suf- 

 ficient game to furnish provisions for the journey. 



In the course of our reconnoitring excursions here Uvdloriaq 

 distinguished himself as a born pathfinder. Behind a wild and rugged 

 hill crest, among chasms where all progress seemed impossible, he dis- 

 covered a small ridge jutting out on to the glacier, just wide enough 

 to allow a sledge to pass. We subsequently found that this was the 

 only way of access to the main glacier, and the discovery thus saved 

 us from having to winter in the Peary Channel. 



Then followed a fortnight of hard work in getting our gear up 

 over the rocky hill, which was entirely free from snow. Every bit of 

 it we had to carry on our backs, sledges and all, first up and then 

 down, over pathless ravines, and often wading in swift mountain tor- 

 rents. 



We came down on to the glacier through a ravine running toward 



