348 P. Freuchen. 



On the 8th May we had a momentary ghmpse of land away to the 

 north — possibly however only refraction — which soon disappeared in 

 a bank of mist. All night a perfectly complete (vertical and horizon- 

 tal) system of mock suns was visible, more magnificent than any we 

 had seen on the way. 



9th May. In the morning, after a strong spell of driving snow, 

 the wind fell to about 6 — 7 metres, and we were able to go on. Ahead 

 of us lie the characteristic cloud banks which always accompany land 

 when seen from the inland ice. Immediately after, however, the snow 

 begins driving again, with renewed force, so that we can see but a 

 little distance ahead of our teams. After covering 40 km., we get 

 a clear spell again, and can now see a great expanse of land ahead 

 and to the left, extending north and south, while to the right, we 

 can see the line of the coast south of Danmarks Fjord, running out 

 to the eastward. South of the fjord lies the glacier, and beyond this 

 again high mountain country, but without distinct summits; doubt- 

 less the country behind Mallemuk Fjæld. Before there is time to sketch 

 the lie of the land however, or take an azimuth observation, the snow 

 comes up again and the land disappears. 



We are now 1690 metres above sea level. We shift our course 

 due east, towards a point where we have seen lower ground, which 

 might possibly be the base of Danmarks Fjord. 



The ice slopes downward fairly steeply now, and the covering 

 snow layer diminishes in thickness, frequently exposing the bare ice. 

 A couple of quite narrow cracks run north and south. At the end of 

 the day, having covered 88 km, we reach some narrow nunataks, the 

 barometer then registering 675 metres above sea level. The nunataks 

 consist of great boulders and heaped gravel, with no sign of vegeta- 

 tion. Solid rock formation is nowhere to be seen, and it is therefore 

 impossible to say with certainty if these are true nunataks or only 

 enormous mounds of moraine deposit. There are three of these nun- 

 ataks, about 35 metres high, diameter apparently 1 — 2 kilometres. The 

 ice formation here is hilly and irregular, shutting out the view on 

 either side. There are probably more of these nunataks, placed senti- 

 nel-wise along the border of the land; the three we saw, at any rate, 

 stood in a row parallel with the edge of the inland ice. The ice be- 

 tween them was very steep and slippery, making progress difficult, 

 even with our dogs, who are accustomed to driving down steep slopes 

 of ice at home. (They are trained to go behind the sledge, backing 

 as hard as they can). 



From the summit of the nunataks a "plain" of ice was visible 

 lying between them and the land; we estimated it to be about 4 km. 

 Owing to irregulatities of the surface it was impossible to use the 

 odometer, as the driver attending to it is unable to guide and support 

 the sledge. This "plain" was reached by the steep road between the 



