420 NEW LAND. 



We had long thought it would be of great interest if Simmons 

 or Schei could go up to ' Stenkulfjord ' (Coal Fjord), to examine 

 the large beds of coal which Baurnann had discovered there in the 

 spring of 1901. It was now decided that Simmons should go and 

 Isachsen accompany him, but it was thought that the expedition 

 ought to be made as late as possible in the spring, so that the 

 ground might be reasonably free of snow. It would, however, be 

 no easy matter to drive across Bjornekapeidet (Bear Cape Isthmus) 

 in summer, for as a rule there was very little snow there. 



On May 25 the two started across Bjornekapeidet ; there was 

 not much snow, but the weather on the whole was favourable, 

 and the results of their trip good. They examined the coal-beds, 

 and returned with a quantity of pieces of coal, containing the 

 fossils of plants. In addition to this they brought back with 

 them some well-carved articles of bone, some of which looked like 

 children's toys, while others were things for use, such, for instance, 

 as swivels. They found them while they were digging in the 

 ground a little way above some tent-rings. The things were 

 lying in a heap half covered with moss, and looked exactly as if 

 they had been placed there in a bag, which had crumbled to dust 

 during the course of time. They had shot three polar oxen on the 

 way, of which they skeletonized one. 



They reached the Tram' on June 9 after ploughing back 

 through deep loose snow. 



