Report on the expedition. 127 
Leaving our outfit behind we went on to the land on Sept. 9th in order 
to get a good view of the conditions of the ice and to look for the depot. 
We found it, but it was empty. From a steep hill near the depot we 
had an extensive view of the coast in a southern direction, and we saw 
that we had gone as far with the sledge, as we possibly could, as no 
ice, new or old, was in sight south of our camping site. We could do 
nothing but leave our sledge and outfit on the coast near the depot 
and walk overland to Danmark’s Havn. 
All of Sept. 10th was spent in getting our outfit on to the shore 
and in making the necessary arrangements for carrying the load which 
we must take with us — our journals, films, guns, ammunition, food 
(11, kg of pemmican) and primus with kerosene for three cookings, 
a little spare clothing etc. things which we thought absolutely indis- 
pensable. This we divided into two bundles, which we strapped on our 
backs, and everything being ready we started on the last part of the 
journey. а 
In order to get inside the open water, which we had seen at the 
mouth of Orleans Sound, we had to cross Orleans Island on a WSW course. 
Our progress was rendered very difficult, as the coast was extremely 
hilly, and we had to make two long detours, in both cases caused by 
lakes, which to our surprise were quite open. We had no thermometer 
left and could not measure the temperature of the water, but it felt 
quite warm against our hands and had a very bitter taste. 
Being unused to carry the heavy burdens we were compelled to 
stop-for the night, immediately after we had crossed Orleans Sound. We 
had no sleeping-bags and only a little piece of tent-cloth, which we hung 
up on the three sticks to break the wind. 
On Sept. 11th we walked along, following the coast past Cape Louise 
and a little beyond the depot of the Danmark-Expedition. Shot a bear, 
which unfortunately took to the water and died a short distance off shore. 
Cape Amélie was passed on Sept. 12th. It was very difficult and 
dangerous, as we had to crawl along on the down-fallen debris which 
rocked and rolled under our feet. Saw five fox-traps on the south side 
of Cape Amélie. They were very well preserved, and stood quite close 
together on a small flat plain surrounded by rocks. 
There was quite open water in Skærfjorden, and we were forced 
to go towards the NW in Penthievre Fjord in order to reach the ice, 
which we had seen from Cape Amélie. A gale sprang up and broke the 
ice, before we reached it, and we had to remain where we were. We 
had shot four ptarmigans during the day’s march and had seen one hare. 
Sept. 13th the wind was too strong for us to proceed or to allow 
the ice to become thick, and it was not till Sept. 14th that we were able to 
continue. We crossed over to Joinville Island and followed its coast to 
the south, until an on-coming gale broke up the ice and compelled us 
to stop on a small rock, just close to the open water. 
