SHERARD OSBORNE FJORD 



IN SHERARD OSBORNE FJORD 



May 20th-22nd. — The ice in along the fjord proves to be 

 better than we expeeted, and for the first 20 kilometres we 

 could drive at a loitering pace without an outrunner. Six kilo- 

 metres from Dragon Point we again see a seal. I 'nl'ortunately 

 we do not get within shooting distance, as it heard us before we 

 caught sight of it, and plopped down through its breathing-hole 

 as soon as we stopped in order to attempt to creep up to it. 



We pass the tall, beautiful Castle Island and get 30 kilo- 

 metres into St. Andrew Bay, as further in the snow gets deeper, 

 absolutely unnerving the dogs. The ice here is very uneven 

 and has the characteristics of floating inland-ice. East of Castle 

 Island we come across a couple of large pressure-ridges running 

 at right angles on to land, parallel to the glacier; this indicates 

 that the ice, even so far out as this, has been under the pressure 

 of the main glacier itself. 



At nine o'clock in the evening, Koch and Ajako go into the 

 mountains with a theodolite to take the bearings of St. George 

 Fjord. At three o'clock in the morning they return, having 

 had a view of the fjord, discovering large snow-free land behind 

 and to the south-west. They have also seen an evenly sloping 

 glacier which, between a couple of large mountains, seems to 

 have an even and good connection with the main glacier. This 

 observation further strengthens my resolve later on to try an 

 ascent from this vicinity, when the return journey will some- 

 time lead us on to the inland-ice. 



Ajako has shot two hares, which constitute a delicious even- 

 ing meal and enable us to save the musk-ox meat for the dogs. 

 We have only brought one single, though abundant, ration for 

 them, depositing the rest at Dragon Point for the return 

 journey. 



Shortly after the arrival of my comrades two snow-white 

 wolves are silhouetted high up on a hill-crest. Thei r slender 

 bodies show their plastic beauty against the sharply-blue sky, 

 and they look quite anciently Norse as they trot down towards 

 our camp, sniffing and scenting, full of wonderment. 



10!) 



