150 NEW LAND. 



than Copes Bay, for the bad condition of the ice had greatly 

 hindered them. They had been obliged to drive long distances on 

 the ice-foot, as outside it lay huge masses of packed, impracticable 

 polar ice. Peder had several times suffered from snow-blindness, 

 and twice had even been obliged to ' keep his bag ' for a couple 

 of days, though without thus impeding the work of the expedition 

 to any extent. They had come across two shooting-parties from 

 the ' Windward,' both of whom were returning with an empty bag. 

 One consisted of Bartlett, the mate of the 'Windward,' and an 

 Eskimo, and the other of three Eskimo. 



Schei had geologically examined Bache Peninsula as well as he 

 was able to do for the snow. It presented a most interesting field 

 for research, and although, particularly in its northern part, the 

 snow rendered difficult very accurate investigation, he was well 

 satisfied with the results. There were no glaciers on the peninsula. 

 He made a geological section-drawing, collected fossils, drew a 

 sketch-map of the part he travelled over, took a number of photo- 

 graphs, and, on the whole, made the utmost of the excursion. 

 In a long valley extending across to Nordfjord from Princess 

 Marie Bay they had seen the traces of several camping-grounds 

 and some sledge-tracks, both evidently left by Peary. It seemed 

 as if his chief camp had been there, and they supposed it was 

 there that his feet had been frost-bitten in February. 



Their last field of work had been at Camperdown, on Bache 

 Peninsula. Here the thaw was in full progress : the streams were 

 rushing full and swift down the sides of the mountains, and large 

 pools made the ice-foot almost impassable. Numbers of lanes 

 crossed and recrossed the ice in Kane Basin, and also in the 

 vicinity of nearly every little iceberg. Here, too, the seals were 

 swimming peaceably and unsuspectingly about, and on quiet, 

 sunshiny days were to be seen basking near the leads, looking like 

 coffee-beans strewn about for long distances over the ice. Peder 

 shot as many of them as were necessary to give the dogs a good 

 feed, and I must say that on their return home they were in 

 splendid condition. 



On and near the ' Fram ' the greatest activity had prevailed 

 during the whole of the spring, for there was a great deal to be done. 



