HOME TO THULE 



obvious that it would be preferable for us to move on to new 

 feeding-grounds. 



But the expedition had still two tasks unaccomplished. We 

 were very unwilling to leave the district without having done 

 our utmost to bury Wulff ; and the collections of the expedi- 

 tion were yet lying by the point of descent near Cape Agassiz, 

 and these would have to be fetched as soon as possible ; other- 

 wise we ran the risk of bears or foxes destroying the depots. 

 For an immediate start none of us had the clothes, and, apart 

 from a few supplementary articles, nothing was to be had at 

 Etah. Our outfit had to be procured from one of the larger 

 camps near Inglefield Bay, where we knew there was always 

 an abundance of those furs which we so badly missed here. So 

 we made the following arrangements : 



Koch should remain, until further notice, in Etah, with some 

 families who did not wish to go southward yet. All the others 

 were to leave Etah and attempt autumn hunting on the new ice 

 to the south, whereby the question of provisions would be easier 

 for those who remained. They had yet considerable stores of 

 cereals, flour, peas, vegetables, and pork. It was fresh meat 

 we were short of as long as there were many of us. 



Together with all the southward-bound sledges, I was to 

 cross the glacier to Neqe, wherefrom, as soon as the conditions 

 of the ice permitted, I was to force the journey to Thule. It was 

 high time that, from my station, I should prepare as well as 

 possible for another wintering. Immediately after my arrival 

 Peter Freuchen was to journey up to Koch, and with the latter 

 undertake the journey to Inglefield Land. Ajako and Bosun, 

 who were to accompany them on this journey, must for the 

 present go to Igdluluarssuit, where I would find clothes, dogs, 

 and other outfit for both of them. Only in this way did we 

 think it possible to carry through the task which yet 

 remained. 



An attempt which had already been made to bury Dr. Wulff 

 and to fetch our things near the inland-ice had miscarried, and 

 that although the task was left in the hands of Ajako, he being 

 the one who was soonest restored to health after our arrival at 



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