114 EJNAR MIKKELSEN. 
— or rather a succession of pressure-ridges — which were very difficult 
to pass on account of the soft snow in between the ridges, but once 
under the high and steep Mallemukfjæld we found good going over level 
ice, which was almost bare of snow (Fig. 62). The ice was as yet quite 
solid, but all the frost-cracks were open and about 15 å 20cm wide, 
while the snow on land was melting so fast that rivulets were trickling 
down the slopes. 
We camped at 11 a.m. (June 20th) just south of Mallemukfjældet 
(Fig. 63) and in brilhant weather, but when we resumed the work at 
11 p. m., it was cloudy, warm and foggy. We headed up the fjord fol- 
lowing the coast as closely as possible in order to find the depot, but 
we went beyond the place without seeing it and camped at Та. т. (June 
21st). 
The melting process went on fast, owing to the warm weather, and 
the ice frozen on to the bottom near the shore was already overflowed 
with water. 
The weather on June 22nd was wretched, warm and nearly rainy, 
and the melting process went on so fast, that we could see the dimin- 
ishing of the snow and ice from day to day. The whole day was spent 
in trying to locate the depot, but in vain. 
On June 23rd we tried to go across the fjord to Hovgaard Island 
after having given up to find the depot and having left behind us all the 
articles of outfit, which were not absolutely necessary; but the sledge got 
stuck in slushy snow about 2 miles off land, and in a short time we had to 
give up the attempt as impossible. We measured 30 cm of clear water 
on the surface of the ice and crossed some large ponds, but much worse 
than this was the wet, slushy snow, in which the sledge sank down so 
that unloading became necessary in order to get out. 
We talked the matter over carefully and decided to wait on the 
coast of Holm’s Land, until the snow had melted away; then we would 
try to get some game instead of wasting more time in this futile attempt 
of crossing, and on June 23rd 7 a.m. our tent was erected on land. 
Our resourses were as follows: for ourselves we had 20 kg of different 
kinds of provision, which would last for twenty days on the same small 
rations, which we had used since we passed Nakkehoved. For the dogs 
we had about 20 kg of dog-feed from the Danmark-Expedition, but it 
was of no great account, as the dogs would not eat more of this than 
was absolutely necessary to prevent starvation, and they consequently 
lost strength. Of kerosene we still had sufficient for 20 days, and of 
ammunition we had as yet 180 ball-cartridges and 45 shotgun-cartridges. _ 
Our camping outfit was good, and we had still five dogs left. 
The prospects for the immediate future consequently seemed fairly 
good, as we were quite certain that we would get game, before our pro- 
visions had come to an end. 
The rest, which we were now compelled to take, was of vital impor- 
