8 REPORT 1869. 



laceous oxide of iron, having usually in the centre kernels of the same, were 

 abundant in the stream and in the soil at its sides. 



After a half-day's work we had apparently exhausted this locality. The 

 specimens obtained were again chiefly taken from the torrent-bed. It was 

 a matter of difficulty, if not of danger, to get any from the sandstone above 

 the coal; and as the natives were murmui-ing frequently at being taken 

 away further than they had agreed, I sent Mr. Erown to the south with one 

 boat, to examine the coast, and then proceed to Eitenbenk, a'/a Atanekerdluk, 

 while I went with the other boat as far north along the Disco shore as the 

 natives would go. A little further along the coast I found some doubtful 

 impressions of leaves in a great wilderness of stones brought down by a 

 glacier-torrent, and about three miles still further north came to the magni- 

 ficent gorge in the sandstone chfi's by the shore, to which I have vainly 

 endeavoured to do justice in the view exhibited*. One mile after this the 

 cliffs by the shore came to an end, and the coast apparently continued quite 

 flat until opposite Hare Island. The natives agreed that no coal was visible 

 along the whole of this shore, and we crossed to Mannik, on the opposite 

 side of the "Waigat. Here there was a small thin seam of coal, exposed in a 

 clifi' not far from the shore ; but I obtained nothing from it, and we continued 

 our course to Atanekerdluk, arriving shortly after midnight; here we passed 

 the night of the 27th August. The next day was occupied in loading the 

 boat with the specimens we had left there, in sketching, and in completing 

 the examination of the locality. At 4 p.m. we started for Sakkak, and left 

 it at 8.30, arriving at Eitenbcnk on the morning of the 29th August. Mr. 

 Brown had arrived about twelve hours before, but, hke ourselves, had failed 

 to make any fresh discoveries. 



At Ritenbenk we remained three days, with foul weather. During this 

 time the collections, including many hundred specimens, amounting to con- 

 siderably more than half a ton in weight, were repacked. We were then 

 favoured, by the kindness of Mr. Anderson, with a passage in a blubber-boat 

 to Godhavn, at which place we arrived on September the 4th, after a most 

 disagreeable voyage. On the 10th we sailed on board the brig ' Hoalfisken,' 

 and arrived at Copenhagen on October the 22nd. 



In conclusion it is right to observe that these collections could not have 

 been made excepting by means of the facilities afforded by the Danish 

 authorities. We may feel a natural satisfaction that so many as eighty 

 species should have been discovered by the labours of Professor Heer ; but 

 it shoidd be remembered that they are primarily due to the invaluable in- 

 formation given by Herr C. S. M. Olrik, the Director of the Greenland Trade. 

 Scarcely less are our thanks due to Herr K. Smith, the present Inspector of 

 North Greenland, and to Herr Anderson, of Kitenbenk; both of these 

 gentlemen gave much assistance, at considerable personal trouble, which was 

 of the greatest service. 



To Bohert H. Scott, Esq., Edward WsTMrER. 



Secretary of the Committee of 



the British Association. 



Preliminary Report on the Fossil Plants collected by Mr. Whymper in North 

 Greenland, in 1867. By Prof. Oswald Heek. 



The fossil plants which have been sent to me by Mr. Whymper have come 

 partly from Disco Island and partly from Atanekerdlidi. 



* At this part some boulders of granite, probably transported by sea-ioe, were lying on 

 the shore. 



