84 THE FOREST LANDS OF NORTHERN RUSSIA. 



ing on the east coast of Greenland south of the Polar circle. 

 The glaciers on the east coast are few, and of no great size ; 

 and the fiords are free from ice. Over the whole inland 

 there is ice. There occur masses of fine dust, partly of 

 cosmical origin, with the ice. An inland ice party started 

 on the 4th of July from Auleitzwik Fiord. When they 

 were 140 kilometres east of the glacial border, and 500 

 feet above the seal level, they were prevented by soft snow 

 from proceeding with sledges. They sent the Laplanders 

 further on snow-shoes (xkidar.) These advanced 230 kilo- 

 meters eastwards over a continual snow desert to a height 

 of 7000 feet. The conditions for a snow-free interior con- 

 sequently did not exist here ; but this expedition, during 

 which men have reached for the first time the interior of 

 Greenland, has given important results as to the nature of 

 the interior of an ice-covered continent. Baron Nordens- 

 kjold had believed that if the high mountainous ranges along 

 the coast of Greenland were crossed, the valleys (if any) in 

 the interior would probably be found covered with green 

 vegetation, but it was found that after ascending to about 

 7000 feet abov ; the sea level, the country was compara- 

 tively flat, and covered with snow and ice. The greatest 

 cold experienced was 20 degs. below zero. 



