GREENLAND BY THE POLAR SEA 



so that a comparatively small rise in the ground here by Kane 

 Basin would reveal large stretches of land. It is only possible 

 to understand the nature of Humboldt's Glacier rightly by 

 looking upon it as a continuation of the quiet and fissure-free 

 edge of the inland-ice which runs down on Inglefield Land. 

 Thus it is not correct to characterize Humboldt's Glacier as a 

 glacier, but only as an even edge of ice to which the sea 

 reaches up. 



The overwhelming impression made on Kane and his fol- 

 lowers by this glacier must have been due to its extent. I 

 fully admit that, looked upon as an ice-stream, it is imposing 

 in its calm and quiet enormity, even if its kindly round back 

 is quite different to what one would expect from the largest 

 glacier in Greenland. 



60 



