Report on the Danmark expedition to the north-east coast. 113 



April 2nd. Mylius-Erichsen now divided the 10 sledges into 

 two divisions A and B. 



Division A — Bertelsen, Bronlund, Mylius-Erichsen, G. 

 Thostrup and Ring — returned with empty sledges to the depot 

 at Bjørneskærene to bring up provisions and dogs' food. They pass- 

 ed the night at the depot and reached Nordre Depot on the following 

 day — a journey of 120 kilometers in 2 days. 



April 4th. Just as division A were starting off northwards, the 

 other division returned. Koch reported, that on 2/IV he had found 

 and taken on the 37 boxes of dogs' pemmican, which had been de- 

 posited in Jøkelbugt (at Box Islands) in February during a snowstorm. 

 On 3/IV he had driven northwards with 400 kg. on each sledge. Owing 

 to very bad ice he had not succeeded in reaching the land, as Mylius- 

 Erichsen had desired, for the sake of hunting. He had, therefore, 

 unloaded his sledges on the ice about 30 kilometers north of Nordre 

 Depot and had now returned to fetch a new load. He strongly ad- 

 \ised against making for the land at Pic de Gerlache and recommended 

 a route just on the east point of Lamberts Land. 



As the division В had already driven 30 kilometers that day, 

 the dogs had to have a breathing space. Division A, who were ready 

 to start, at once droA^e off and allowed the other party to follow on 

 later. 



When the A party reached the place, where Koch had set down 

 his first load, they could see nothing of the difficulties Koch had 

 w'arned them against, probably owing to the peculiar light. Mylius- 

 Erichsen, who rightly laid great weight on hunting as soon as pos- 

 sible, resolved to go on at once towards Pic de Gerlache. He was 

 soon forced to admit, however, that Koch was right. 



The A party thus went on, but after 11 kilometers of very bad 

 ice, were forced to stop owing to damages. 



Late in the evening the В party reached the depot on the ice. 

 As the party had travelled 60 kilometers that day, Koch resolved 

 to halt and tent at the depot. 



April öth. Early in the morning Koch continued the journey 

 and in the course of the forenoon reached Mylius-Erichsen's tenting 

 place with all 5 sledges damaged; one sledge had even been left be- 

 hind for the time being, as it had broken right across; it was fetched 

 later in the day. 



A rest was then taken. Mylius-Erichsen and the two Green- 

 landers drove in towards land with empty sledges for the purpose 

 of hunting. It proverl impossible, however, to make any advance 

 with the sledges and they had to be left on the ice. After a long and 

 extremely tiring tour the hunters returned. The booty was only 7 hares. 



Bertelsen utilised the halt to paint a sketch of Pic de Gerlache. 

 The colours froze and he was obliged to use the knife instead of brush. 



