Report on the expedition. 97 
` This abundance of game and the rather great amount of drift- 
wood which they were fortunate enough to encounter, rendered it pos- 
sible for Myzius-ERICHSEN and his two companions to remain quietly 
in the vicinity of Sjelland’s Sletten, until the autumn was so far ad- 
vanced and the weather cold and constant enough to let the young 
ice settle down, whence the homeward journey could begin, 
The question of the journey home would assuredly have formed 
a daily topic of conversation throughout the summer, and there were 
probably two plans: one, to follow the coast and the other to make 
their way across the Inlandice from the base of Danmark’s Fjord to Lam- 
bert’s Land. 
The latter project doubtless appeared the more promising of the 
two, presenting as it did one considerable advantage over the other, 
viz: that the homeward journey could be commenced much earlier 
than would be the case if they were forced to wait, until the young ice 
along the outer coast should be strong enough to permit their sledging 
on it; this is, however, all that could be said in favour of the route in 
question, which presents many and serious difficulties, the chief of which 
would be the ascent of the Inlandice. This they would always be obliged 
to consider as an unknown factor, which might overthrow their plan 
entirely, and from what HøEeG-HAGEN said to Capt. Косн*, on the 
occasion of their meeting at Cape Rigsdagen he does not appear to have 
believed that it would be possible to make the ascent. Moreover, even 
if this difficulty should be overcome, there would still be the long journey 
over the Inlandice, where fissures and rugged ice would hinder and 
delay their progress. Even for a well-equipped expedition such a journey 
would be a matter of considerable difficulty, and for MyLius-ERICHSEN 
and his comrades, situated as they were, it would be almost impossible 
to accomplish it. They lacked everything that was necessary, clothes 
and gear, and most important of all provisions. Even if they had meat 
on the sledges when making the ascent, there was always the possibility 
of unforeseen delays from various causes, and if their provisions should 
give out while on the Inlandice there would be no means of obtaining food. 
The alternative route, on the other hand, viz: along the coast, offered 
so many advantages in comparison with the only one point in favour 
of the Inlandice — i. e., the earlier start, and even that was doubtful — 
that it was only natural to finally decide on the route along the coast. 
In the first place, the distance would be about the same, whether 
they went overland or along the coast. There were, moreover, depots 
along the coast; which, though not large, were yet large enough to furnish 
a very valuable support and save them from absolute starvation, espe- 
cially when taken in conjunction with the game which they might with 
some degree of certainty expect to find. 
1 Amprup, Medd. om Grønland, Vol. ХМ, pag. 216. 
LI. 7 
