Report on the Danmark expedition to the north-east coast. 123 



SEN would continue north-west through the Peary Channel, whilst 

 Koch was to follow the coast of Peary Land to the north-east and 

 try to reach Peary's cairn on Cape Clarence Wyckoff (82°57'.7). 



The difficulties of the journey had already for some time raised 

 doubts in Koch's mmd as to the accomplishment of the programme. 

 At the depot at 81°30' he had, for this reason, suggested to Mylius- 

 Erichsen, that the 2nd party should giA^e ол^ег to the 1st party all 

 the provisions and all the food they could do without and then turn 

 back. Mylius-Erichsex however would not hear of this. 



The inauspicious outlook during the march on May 1st again 

 caused Koch, after consultation with Bertelsen, to bring forward 

 the proposal, that the 2nd party should return, but again Mylius- 

 Erichsen rejected it; he still hoped and expected, that they would 

 find game in a few days; he knew that Koch was more than willing 

 to go on and only made his proposal with great self-sacrifice. Finally, 

 he said that he thought it of special importance for the Expedition, 

 if Koch could succeed in reaching Peary's cairn at ca. 83° and thus 

 link up with the American survey. Koch replied, that in that case 

 he would propose, that the 1st and 2nd parties should at once sepa- 

 rate. The nearest route to Peary Land would now be along a course 

 towards the north-west, whereas the coast tended west by south; 

 the advance along this was difficult and the outlook with regard to 

 game was for the time the least possible. The boundary of the screw- 

 ice ran out towards the north-west; by following this Koch hoped 

 to meet with bears. But Koch also calculated, that even without 

 hunting he would bo able to reach Peary Land and return to the depot 

 at 81°30' without too much risk. Mylius-Erichsen hesitated some- 

 Avhat in accepting this proposal. Peary's experience did not indicate, 

 that big game could be got on the east coast of Peaiy Land and he 

 did not believe in bear hunting in the screw-ice. On the other hand, 

 the outlook westward was not good at that moment and he would 

 not oppose Koch's attempt, therefore, to go directly to Peary Land. 



When the parties separated, the stores were in the main as follows: 



1st party 2nd party 



provisions for ca. 1.5 days ca. 15 days 



dogs' food for - 15 — - 14 — 



petroleum for - 25 — - 25 — 



By a mistake the 2nd party carried off the common jar of spirits, 

 the 1st party having only the spirits contained in a small spirit can 

 belonging to the cooking apparatus. The mistake proved, however, 

 to be of no practical importance. 



At 8.15 in the evening the two parties drew away from each other. 

 The small silk flags were fastened on the sledges; each wished the 

 other good luck on the journey, swung their caps and soon Mylius- 



