GREENLAND BY THE POLAR SEA 



stretch of the coast Wulff found a living saxifrage with fully- 

 developed flowers on stems an inch high ; in full bloom it had 

 been suddenly surprised by the winter, which it had allowed 

 to pass over its head as if it did not exist at all, and it quite 

 calmly continued its life now when spring and sunshine once 

 more melted the ice. All its tissues were full of life although 

 the temperature of the air was minus 11° (Cent.), and there 

 had as yet been no thaw during the year. 



Near Black Horn Cliffs we made our camp after twelve 

 hours of driving, as neither the dogs nor we ourselves could 

 stand any more. After a slight meal and a refreshing cup of 

 tea I climbed the mountains with the Eskimos so as to ascer- 

 tain what conditions for travelling the next day would offer. 

 The ice was similar to that of the preceding days, and in spite 

 of all difficulties this was a pleasant surprise ; for the ice of 

 Black Horn Cliffs, which run steeply into the sea without a 

 trace of ice-foot, is not dependable, open water being often 

 found. 



Inland we looked across even land with knolls which almost 

 entirely consist of pebbles, clay, and sand. In spite of the 

 absence of vegetation, the view, with its soft, calm lines, is a 

 kindly one. Behind it all the mighty Mount Punch was 

 enthroned, broad and solid with a skull-cap of white snow. 



The land was bare of snow and in vain our two good field- 

 glasses ransacked plains, valleys, and doughs. Not a hare, 

 let alone a musk-ox, was to be discovered anywhere. 



From the wind-swept look-out of our mountain we could 

 see clear across to the country round Grant Land, looming 

 far, far to the north amidst a sea of ice like blue banks of fog. 

 Furthest away Inukitsoq recognized Cape Sheridan, the winter 

 harbour of Nares in 1875-76, and later on Peary's quarters 

 during no less than two Polar expeditions. 



Looking from this point across the huge plain of rugged 

 Polar pack-ice with very occasional narrow lanes of new ice, 

 one cannot but feel the greatest admiration for the old English 

 sailor who already forty years ago found a way for ships so 

 near to the North Pole. 

 88 



