68 THE LAST CRUISE OF THE MIRANDA. 



their natural powers in their grim battle with an inimical and 

 difficult environment. The few virtues of civilization that 

 are with difficulty grafted upon them hardly compensate for 

 the civilized vices, which are only too easily spread among 

 them, and which so weaken them in their hard struggle for 

 existence. 



Indeed, the Danish Government has recognized the fact 

 that intercourse with civilized people is positively detrimental 

 to the Eskimos, and so it prohibits civilized persons other 

 than officials of the Government from remaining for any 

 length of time among them. Professor Dyche, of our party, the 

 well-known naturalist and hunter, wished to remain in Green- 

 land all the winter, in order to increase his already great collec- 

 tion of North American mammals; but he was informed that 

 he could not remain without a permit from the Danish Govern- 

 ment. Nothing daunted, he secured a permit after his return 

 to this country, and started again for Greenland in a small 

 schooner the following spring. At Holsteinborg he connect- 

 ed with the Peary Relief Expedition, and returned with it, 

 bringing with him nearly 4,000 specimens of Arctic birds, 

 eggs, and animals. This is the largest collection that has 

 ever been made in the Arctic regions, and as it was made 

 within four months, great credit must be given Professor 

 Dyche for his energy and brilliant work. 



As it was decided to remain at Sukkertoppen for a couple 

 of days, a party under Professor Wright was organized to visit 

 and explore a glacier about thirty miles away, up a fiord called 

 Isortok. Toward evening we started off in two boats, a life- 

 boat and a dory. In the lifeboat were Professors Wright and 

 Jillson, Messrs. Dove, Kersting, Frederick Wright, Jr., 

 Dunning, myself, and three Eskimos. In the dory were 

 Messrs. Ladd, Rogers, Carpenter, Joyner, and one Eskimo. 

 The Eskimos are good and untiring oarsmen. They row a 

 slow stroke, but they put their muscle into it and make it 



