GREENLAND BY THE POLAR SEA 



Sax. oppositifol., Cernua nivalis, tricuspidata, the latter vigor- 

 ous, still in bloom, blood-red, Papaver, Draba. 



"August 25th. — Ajako returns 6 a.m. with five hares. 

 Boiled hare and delicious liver, heart, meat and strong soup, 

 but I am incredibly sick of the meat diet and all the boiled meat 

 ever since a year ago. Thinking merely of peas, salt pork, pan- 

 cake, jam, bread, fruit, brandy, coffee, chocolate. Nevertheless 

 I eat as much as I can to regain the wish to live and conquer my 

 weakness. New ice formed last night on the lake. Feel con- 

 tinually reduced in strength. Cassiope, StelJ. Jongipes. Aspid. 

 fragrans. 



" Harrigan got another two hares, all three young with 

 grey heads — one was eaten raw, two were boiled. Potentilla 

 nivea, rubricaulis, emarginata, Dryas, broad-leaved, smooth, 

 octopetala-like, typical integrifolia and var. canescens. Very 

 commonly Myrtillus uliginosa, scattered extensive mats, Salix 

 arctica, with broadly oval and narrow lance-shaped leaves, highly 

 variable, Pedicularis hirsuta. 



" Knud and Ajako started out on foot this evening at 

 6 o'clock for Etah (approx. 200 km.), the straight road across 

 land to send us relief sledges and provisions. 



"Myrtillus uliginosa, Pyrola uniflora, Wahlbergella (large, 

 not triflor.). 



" Drink warm water for supper. 



"August 26th. — Koch during the night went for a few 

 hours' walk inland. Stalked a hare in vain. I am sleepless, 

 tortured by a persistent carbuncle on the ham. Clear cold 

 night. Eat in the morning the last remnants of the last dog. 

 Harrigan and Bosun return 2 p.m. after nearly two days' un- 

 successful hunt. Got a hare which they ate row. No reindeer. 

 We must break up at once and go towards Marshall Bay. 



"Thrown away theodolite, two cameras, bandages, clothes, 

 everything which we can yet do without. Remains now the 

 most serious flight for life. To think of collecting plants now 

 is impossible. If we can manage to get off with our lives it is 

 great. We four men have absolutely nothing edible and ob- 

 viously bad prospects of hunting. All weak but in good spirits. 

 280 



