Report on the Danmark expedition to the north-east coast. 37 



task at that time undoubtedly the most important, that still remained 

 to be undertaken within the North Polar region '^. 



In the different countries the circles interested in Arctic explor- 

 ation had their attention directed, therefore, to the investigation 

 of this stretch of coast and the realisation of the idea was several times 

 urged in the foreign press. 



Fortunately, however, it was recognised in Denmark, that the 

 task should be taken up by Denmark as a fitting conclusion to the 

 great work of exploring the east coast of Greenland, which had been 

 carried out from this country for centuries. 



Thus, in the beginning of 1902 already the leader of the "'Carls- 

 bergfondets Expedition til Øst-Grønland 1898 — 1900", Lieutenant 

 G. Amdrup, had besought the Carlsberg Fund for the means necessary 

 to defray a new expedition, with the above object as goal. Owing 

 to the many other, large calls upon it, however, the Carlsberg Fund 

 was not prepared to sacrifice large sums again on the alter of Arctic 

 exploration and the expedition did not materialise. 



It was fortunate, therefore, that the author Ludvig Mylius- 

 Erichsex took up the idea about three years later and carried it 

 successfully into life. 



Mylius-Erichsen was born in Viborg on January 15th 1872. 

 After becoming a student in 1895 he displayed some journalistic ac- 

 tivity and published various works belonging to light literature, in 

 which he repeatedly showed his open feeling for nature. In his sound 

 and strong body dwelt an unconquerable energy, which could not 

 rest until the goal aimed at was reached. And the aim of all his 

 dreams was to become one of the band of Greenland explorers in the 

 work on which so many Danes had spent years of their lives. In 1898 

 already it was his highest wish to accompany G. Amdrup on his first 

 voyage to Greenland. But various conditions prevented him from 

 thinking about it. Four years later he himself was leader of a Green- 

 land expedition, the so-called "Danish literary Greenland's Expedition", 

 of 1902 — 04, when, in addition to travelling over the greater part of 

 the colonised portion of West Greenland, he also established his claim 

 to pioneer work of exploration. Starting from Upernivik, our northern- 

 most colony, he went off on a sledging expedition and explored Mel- 

 ville Bay, which for a great part had not been travelled over previously 

 by other than Eskimo and thereafter overwintered at Cape York '. 



In 1904 Mylius-Erichsen returned home from this expedition, 

 more enamoured than ever of Arctic exploration and enriched with 



' This was also the view expressed by the well-known, Swedish Arctic ex- 

 plorer, Professor A. G. Nathorst, in Ynier 1902, Heft 4, p. ЬЫ and Ymer 1905, 

 Heft 3, p. 345. 



" L. MYLius-EnicHSE.N og Haiialii Moltke: (liunlaiid. Ivjobfiiliavii 1906. 



