INTRODUCTION 



of which none of us under-estimated, I made out on the 14th of 

 February a written agreement which was signed by all. Only 

 the following extract will be of interest, the remainder relating 

 to routes and dispositions which will be self-evident later on : 



"Although it is quite clear to me that it is very difficult 

 previous to a start to specify an Expedition in sections, I have 

 found it necessary to do this so that you, my comrades, may 

 have some fixed point for the planning of the various parts of 

 the work to be carried out. 



" The Expedition will consist of — 



Dr. Thorild Wulff, Botanist and Biologist. 



Lauge Koch, Geologist and Cartographer. 



Hendrik Olsen, previously a member of the Danmark 

 Expedition. 



Ajako. 



Nasaitsordluarsuk, called Bosun. 



Inukitsoq, called Harrigan. 



And myself, as Chief and Ethnographer to the Expedi- 

 tion. 



"In a previously presented plan all the tasks have already 

 been worked out. 



" As regards dispositions of journeys and routes I am abso- 

 lute Chief. But I will, of course, within the domain of your 

 respective professions, grant you all the freedom which circum- 

 stances may permit, and you will also, as often as your work 

 may demand, be exempted from hunting. 



" I wish beforehand to emphasize that during the Expedi- 

 tion there must be no difference in standing between the 

 Eskimos and ourselves, the Eskimos being members of the 

 Expedition with equal rights and duties to the scientists, and 

 no man but the leader must have command over them." 



Several large expeditions richly equipped had already been 

 to the regions we were to visit ; but none of them had succeeded 

 in acquiring a thorough knowledge of the country — this despite 

 the fact that due to its position it must contain the key to many 

 problems decisive for the exploration and history of Greenland. 



xxi 



