340 Knud Rasmussen. Report of the First Thule Expedition 1912. 



Camp 27. 13 September. 



Weather fine. Make about 50 km., passing the big reindeer country 

 SW. of Olriks Bay. Journey took only 12 hours, no difficulties occur- 

 ring. We have lengthened the uprights of the sledge out to the sides, 

 by fastening a ski stave to the cross bar on either side. By this means, 

 two men can push the sledge forward without having to stoop in a 

 cramped position. The dogs have now practically no weight to haul; 

 we are still, however, obliged to send a pacer on ahead to make them 

 move. We must remember, however that they have had nothing to eat 

 now for many days save the flesh of their exhausted comrades, which 

 is barely enough to keep them alive. 



Camp 28. 14 September. 



Reach Nunatarssuaq at the base of Wolstenholme Sound. Freu- 

 chen's leg much better now, and he marches with the rest of us, doing 

 the 40 km. or so in 14 hours. 



15 September. 



Reach Thule after a 16 hours' march. Eight dogs still alive. 



Mounting the crest of a hill close to our settlement just as the 

 dusk is beginning to hide the houses, we fire a salute to announce our 

 arrival, each man of us happy in the knowledge of having done his duty. 



I cannot close this brief report of the First Thule Expedition 

 without a word of thanks to my comrades for all their services to the 

 Expedition from first to last. 



Especial thanks are due to the cartographer of the Expedition, 

 Peter Freuchen, for the cheerful spirit which marked his work. Hardy 

 to a degree, able to put up with anything, and possessing a rare adap- 

 tability to Eskimo conditions, he is eminently quahfied for the work 

 of arctic exploration. 



Our journey being based to a great extent upon Eskimo methods,, 

 it was natural that Uvdloriaq and Inukitsoq should from the start 

 occupy a position far exceeding in importance that which usually falls 

 to the Eskimo members of an expedition. Their personal qualities, as 

 well as the skill which they possessed in their own sphere of work,, 

 frequently helped us to overcome with ease difficulties which might 

 otherwise have been considerable. And in particular I wish to thank 

 them for the unwavering confidence with which they backed me up in 

 all my plans from first to last. 



