392 



Particular interest attaches to the two holes pierced right 

 up in the upper edge of the back part of the runners. They 

 are placed higher than the other holes, so much so that in 

 one of the runners the hole has been bored from the inner 

 side of the runners obhquely upwards, so that it debouches on 

 the narrow upper surface of the runner (in the other runner 

 the wood has been partially splintered at this spot). It may 

 be permitted to assume that these two holes must have been 

 used for lashing one of the missing uprights (if the sledge 

 possessed any^). If we consider the distance between these 

 holes and the back edge of the runners, we get the impression 

 that the feet of these uprights must have been comparatively 

 long. 



Almost all the previous expeditions to North East Green- 

 land speak of having found sledges, or parts of sledges. 



Scoresby made a similar find in Traill Island (72° 12', in 

 the south part of the big Franz Joseph Fjord complex^). "One 

 large piece of main-keel was found entire. It was composed 

 of fir-wood (probably drift-timber) and defended by a row of 

 pieces of bone, fastened to it by wooden pegs inserted in 

 holes ^lio^^^ of an inch in diameter." 



Besides this, in several places a number of sledge keels 

 were found. Whereto Scoresby makes the comment, that this 

 great number of fragments of sledge parts indicates that the 

 population must once not merely have been numerous, but must 

 also have made extensive use of sledges. 



Of special interest here is the sledge which was discovered 

 and brought home by "Die zweite deutscheNordpolarexpedition"^), 

 and which now reposes in the Museum für Völkerkunde in Berlin 



Murdoch (1, 355) designates as characteristic of sledges of the Greenland 

 type "two upright posts at each side of the back of the sled, often 

 connected by a cross rail, which serves to guide the sled from behind". 

 Scoresby, Journal 267. 

 Koldewey G85. 



