290 NEW LAND. 



literally swam in the bottomless snow. They were under the 

 weather, perhaps, for it was dull and damp. In the end we reached 

 a large boat-shaped iceberg at ' Nordodden ' (North Point), whence 

 it had been agreed we were to shape the course eastward and 

 explore the collection of fjords which the Captain and Bay, and 

 also Isachsen and Braskerud, had seen from Ellesmere Land in the 

 summer of 1899. Later in the day the fog began to lift, a fresh 

 breeze sprang up and cleared the air, and we soon had beautiful 

 sunshine, so that I was able to take observations, bearings, and 

 some photographs of the country. 



On the morning of May 29 we were camping on the north side 

 of the fjord, and after much consideration we decided not to go 

 any farther east. The reasons for this were as follows : 



' 1. Exploration to the inner extremity of Canonfjord has 

 proved for certain that Bay Fjord, the head of which lies on about 

 our present latitude, does not issue out anywhere in these parts, 

 nor south of this point. The prolongation of the fjord must there- 

 fore be here ; it is hardly possible to think of any other alternative. 

 The situation of the head of the fjord is determined, its outer 

 parts the same, and we therefore do not think it imperative to 

 make a detailed exploration of the intervening part. 



'2. The season is so far advanced that we hardly dare risk 

 travelling farther inwards. It is a long way to the " Train," and, 

 added to this, the ice at the mouth of the sound may break up 

 early. I may mention in this connection that we saw an ivory 

 gull yesterday, the first this year, and we took this to be a sign of 

 open water, if not near at hand, at any rate at no great distance.' 



The following day I climbed the top of the highest of the three 

 islands, which have been named ' Grethas Oer ' (Gretha Islands), 

 and our assumption in regard to the outlet of Bay Fjord was still 

 further strengthened. Judging by the sinking of the mountains, 

 the fjord first ran northward for a short distance, and then in an 

 easterly direction towards a large chain of mountains with snow- 

 covered land in the background. 



Notwithstanding that it was still full winter, with the ther- 

 mometer at 14 Fahr. ( 10 Cent.), I saw on the island, on 

 May 30, a flight of six sandpipers about the size of a thrush. It 



