Ukckmheu 7, 1NS3.] 



SCIENCJE. 



737 



ration to an abrupt clnse, but 'miglit have had the 

 most ili-astiims coiisequeiicos, hs it would iiavc been 

 utterly iinpos-ible to have carried a man in that state 

 l)a('k to the coast. One advantage the Ivryokonite 

 cavities liad, however; viz., of offering us the purest 

 drinking-water imaginable, of which we fully availed 

 ourselves without the least bad consefiuences, in spite 

 of our perspiring state. 



On .July 16 we covered tliirteen, on the 17th eigh- 

 teen and a half, and on the 18th seventeen and a Iialf, 

 kilometres. The country, or more correctly the ice, 

 now gradually rose from 9(i."> to l,21o metres. The 

 distances enumerated show that the ice became more 

 smooth; but the road was still impeded by the kry- 

 okonile cavities, whereas the rivers, which even here 

 were rich in water, became shallower but stronger, 

 thus easier of crossing. Our road was. besides, often 

 cut off by immense snow-covered crevasses, which, 

 nowever, did not cause much trouble. 



On the night of tlie ISth, when arrived at camp no. 

 14, the Lapp Anders came to nie and asked if he 

 might be permitted to ' have a run;' viz.. to make a 

 reconnaissance on 'skidor,'' to see if there was no 

 land to the east. This granted, he started off with- 

 out awaiting supper. He came b.ick after six hours' 

 absence, and reported that he had reached twenty- 

 seven kilometres fartlier ea«t: that the ice became 

 smoother, but was still rising; but there was no sign 

 of land. If his statement was true, he had, after a 

 laborious day's journey, in six hours covered about 

 sixty kilometres ! At first I considered his estimate 

 exaggerated, but it proved to be perfectly correct. 

 It took us, thus, two whole days to reach as far as he 

 had got, as shown by the track in the snow. I p.ar- 

 ticularly mention this occurrence in order to show 

 tliat the Lapps really di<l cover the estimated dis- 

 tance of their journey eastward, of which more 

 below. 



During these days we passed several lakes, some 

 of which had the appearance of not flowing away in 

 the winter, as we found here large ice-blocks several 

 feet in diameter, screwed up on the shore; which cir- 

 cumstance I could only explain by assuming that a 

 large quantity of water still remained here when the 

 pools about became covered with new ice. The lakes 

 are mostly circular, and their shores formed a snow 

 ' bog ' which was almost impassable with the heavy 



On July 19 we covered seventeen and a half, on 

 the 20th sixteen and a half, on the 21st seven, and 

 on the 22d seven and a half, kilometres (l.'ith to 18th 

 camp). The ice rose between them from l,2l;J to 1,402 

 metres. The distances enumerated fully show the 

 nature of the ice. It was at first excellent, particu- 

 larly in the morning, when the new snow was covered 

 with a layer of hard ice; but on the latter days we 

 had great diflicully ii\ i>roceediiig, as a sleet fell with 

 a south-east wind in the night, between the 20lh 



' The Bwrdlall ' iikidor ' and Norwegl.in ' 8ki ' are long 

 Blrips of pine wood, slightly bent at the top, polished, and as 

 elastic as If they were of the flnesl steel, with a strap for the 

 feet in the centre, on which the I-jipps and Scandinavi.ins run on 

 the enow with remarkable agllily at a tremendous pace. 



and the 21st. The new snow, as well as that lying 

 from the previous year, became a perfect snow-bog, in 

 which the sledges c(in>taiilly stuck, so that it required 

 at times four men to get them out. We all got 

 wet, .iiid had great difliculty in finding a spot on the 

 ice dry enough to pilch the tent. On the 22d we 

 had to pitch it in the wet snow, where the feet im- 

 mediately became saturated on putting them outside 

 the Iiidi.arubber mattresses. A little later on in the 

 year, when the surface of the snow is again covered 

 with ice, or earlier, before the thaw sets in, the sur- 

 face would no doubt be excellent to journey on. 



When we, therefore, on July 21, were compelled to 

 pitch the tent in wet snow, as no dry spot could be 

 discovered, and it was impossible to drag the sledges 

 farther, I sent the Lapp, Lars Tuorda, forward on 

 'skidor' to find a dry ro.ad. He came back, and 

 stated that the ice everywhere w.as covered with 

 water and snow. For the first time in his life he 

 was at a loss whiit to suggest. It being utterly im- 

 possible to get the sledges farther, I had no choice. 

 I decided to turn back. 



I wished, however, to let the Lapps go forward 

 some distance to the east to see the country as far as 

 possible. At first I considered it advisable to let 

 their journey only last twenty-four hours; but as 

 both Anders and Lars insisted that they were most 

 eager to find the ' Promised Land,' and said they 

 could do nothing towards discovering it in that short 

 period, I granted them leave to run eastwards for 

 four days and nights, and then return. 



On leaving, I gave them the following written 

 orders : — 



" Instructions for Lars and Anders's ' skid ' run on 

 the inland ice of Greenland; viz., — 



"Lars and Anders have orders to proceed on skidor 

 eastwards, hut are allowed to alter the course, if they 

 may deem it advisable, to north or south. 



"At the end of every third mile the barometer 

 shall be read, and the direction run noted. 



" The absence is to be four days, but we will wait 

 for six days. After that, viz., on the morning of 

 July 28, we return. If not returned, we leave behind, 

 in a sledge, provisions, brandy, mattresses, etc. 



"Lars is warned not to be too bold. Should land 

 be reached, you are to collect as much as you may 

 gather of blossoms and grass; if possible, several 

 kinds (siiecimens) of each. 



"Given on the inland ice in Greenland, July 21, 

 1883. A. E. XoRDENSKiiii.i)." 



They were allowed to select what provisions, etc., 

 they desired, and were furnished with two compasses, 

 aneroid barometers, and a watch. 



At 2.30 A.M. on July 22 they started. The days we 

 waited for them were generally spent in the tent, 

 ■as water surrounded us everywhere. The sky was 

 covered with a thin veil of clouds, through which the 

 sun shone warmly, at times even scorchingly. From 

 time to time this veil of clouds, or haze, descended 

 to the surface of the ice, and hid the view over the 

 expanse; but it was, remarkably enough, not wet, but 

 dry, — yes, so dry that our wet clothes absolutely dried 

 in it. We have therefore, I consider, witnessed a 



