GREENLAND BY THE POLAR SEA 



how wonderful food, real food, tastes under such circumstances. 

 The small dry biscuits which for the last few days we have used 

 as sugar for coffee and tea possess an aroma and a savour which 

 one does not notice at all when one has access to plenty ; and 

 the oaten porridge, which during our wintering we looked at 

 with contempt, affects us like caresses ; we are agreed that we 

 would all be happy for life if we could only have sufficient 

 Avena oats. 



The weather is continually disturbed, but as the sun breaks 

 through at eleven o'clock we set off. The entire journey of 

 the day goes across slippery ice covered by a layer of new snow ; 

 we often fall and the dogs, which continually walk in kamiks, 

 find it difficult to get a foothold. We pass some small crevasses 

 and a number of dried-up sea-basins and river-courses. The 

 first great river-course is passed 16 kilometres from our previous 

 camp at a height of 750 metres. The inland-ice during our 

 journey to-day appears to have been subjected to a severe pro- 

 cess of melting ; the surface consists entirely of tiny, fine grains 

 which inflict considerable pain on the dogs. Our route lies 

 across an even terrain faintly sloping towards Peabody Bay, 

 where all rivers find their outlets. 



CAMP 14 

 (600 metres above sea-level. Distance, 30 kilometres). 



The sky threatens us constantly with Fohn clouds. The 

 minimum temperature of the night was minus 5° (Cent.), whilst 

 during the forenoon it rises to 1° (Cent.). A ring forms round 

 the sun, gleaming viciously with parhelions. It looks beautiful, 

 but our thoughts centre round the evil meteorological promises 

 which it gives. 



To-day we still drove two sledges, each pulled by three dogs. 

 Although we had to assist, the dogs were yet an invaluable help. 

 We made good speed all during the journey, and by seven 

 o'clock we were able to camp with a view of Peabody Bay, 

 mostly ice with occasional holes of open water. We are 

 probably 25 kilometres from the edge of the glacier, and Wash- 

 ington Land has been visible almost through the entire day. 

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