214 NEW LAND. 



This spot was particularly well situated for observations, especially 

 for azimuths to different points, and we were anxious to reach it 

 before evening. We camped on the south side of the big pressure- 

 ridge, where we had seen all the wolf-tracks on the way up. 

 The sharp wind went down latish in the afternoon, and the 

 evening was unusually beautiful; still, and calm, with brilliant 

 sunshine. 



When we started on May 17, we took a line for the point on 

 the east side of ' Mokkafjord ' (Muck Fjord), as we wanted to 

 gain a better idea of what the waterway was like in the west. 

 The fjord appeared to cut far into the land, and to form the western 

 boundary of the extensive low-lying country stretching south 

 and east. From the point, which we fancied looked like an island, 

 we hoped to get a good view over this level country, and thought 

 we should be able to judge whether the land at the head of the 

 fjord and southwards was glaciated or not. 



The snow was hard and smooth, our loads light, and the dogs 

 in splendid condition. They enjoyed the fine weather, and went 

 at a gallop the whole way south ; but as we approached land we 

 found ourselves in some nasty pressure-ice and short drifts, which 

 would have been very difficult to cross with heavy loads. With 

 our light baggage we simply dashed over them till we see-sawed. 



After driving for a couple of hours we reached the point, where 

 we camped ; the distance covered being thirteen miles. We had a 

 cup of chocolate with bread-and-butter, and then went off; I with 

 my sketch-map and instruments, Schei with his wallet for stones, 

 hammer, chisel, and divers other necessary appurtenances. 



We followed the ridge of the mountains west, until we could 

 see to the head of the fjord, and got an instructive survey of the 

 plain, which, slightly broken, stretched mile after mile, south and 

 east, all the way to Heureka Sound. After that we went down on 

 to some flat ground on the southern slopes to botanize, and saw 

 there several tracks of polar oxen and hares. We reached camp 

 again in the evening, took our observations, and made ready for 

 a feast. 



