SHERARD OSBORNE FJORD 



were still busy flaying their quarry. I need not describe this 

 beautiful finish to a Long day's journey; suffice it to say that 

 we gorged ourselves with tongues and choice morsels far into 

 the night, and that the sleep, which later overwhelmed us and 

 all the sated dogs lying around the tents, was as long as it was 

 well-earned. 



We have now to exploit the country through systematic 

 hunts, wherefore we divide into two parties. VVulff, Ajako, 

 Inukitsoq, and Hendrik go in different directions into the great 

 valley which we saw from the mountain yesterday. Inukitsoq 

 had on his hunt found a lot of fresh tracks and excrements in 

 sand and clay. It would therefore appear that the hunters 

 would have an exciting time if only they would persevere. 

 According to this arrangement we should have sufficient hunters 

 for the immediate vicinity, so I myself chose to drive in Vic- 

 toria Fjord with Bosun, partly for the purpose of hunting, 

 partly so that I might more closely examine the country. We 

 have the advantage of being relatively many, so that in the 

 course of a few days we shall have obtained a perfect survey 

 of the new land. When I mentioned the first disposals for our 

 journey, I emphasized that we could with certainty expect to 

 catch seals some time during the spring, as Eskimos who had 

 accompanied American expeditions in these regions had told 

 of the many breathing-holes they found in places where the ice 

 was young. But we could not reckon on a catch yet, as it was 

 still too early in the spring. Neither could we reckon on find- 

 ing bears so far north, where the massive quality of the ice 

 would make it difficult for then; to find food. We found a 

 track off Cape May, but that was the only one we had so far 

 observed. 



During the coming few months we must thus rely upon the 

 musk-ox only, and as, according to the map, the inner reaches 

 of Victoria Fjord contain large stretches of land, Bosun and I 

 hurriedly collected our best dogs and set off before our com- 

 rades were ready. Yesterday's meals of solid meat had revived 

 the dogs, and in the beginning we made good speed. We 



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