130 G. Amdrup. 



provisions and food till the middle of September. This might bo pos- 

 sible. Not only had they had good hunting immediately they arrived 

 on the 7th and 8th of May, but on the 22nd of May they had also 

 come across quite fresh tracks of game in the snow, and had 

 even sometimes driven into herds of musk-oxen. It was also very 

 probable tliat they would get good hunting on the southern part of 

 Peary Land, which in the main has the same character as Herlufs- 

 holm Strand. It was however already so late in the year, that it 

 was doubtful if they could afford to spend 8 to 14 days; if the hunting 

 failed it was very improbable, that they could still get home. Koch's 

 and Bertel.sen's illness was moreover much more serious than at 

 first believed; they were both quite weak and could stand no e.xertion; 

 the fact that they could now get water and that their digestion was 

 again in order had naturally raised their spirits but made no very 

 great change '. Thus, it was their illness together with the near ap- 

 proach of summer which decided the matter and from Cape Kjoben- 

 havn Koch determined to steer due south. 



Departure at 1.30 p.m. Very heavy sledging. Koch and Tobias, 

 as often before, used their skis with success. Bertelsen's skis were 

 unfortunately quite destroyed by the screw-ice in Wandels Sea. Pitched 

 the tent at 11 p. m. Tobias snow-blind. 



May 27th. Made an observation at noon and sighted a cape 

 probably Cape Knud Rasmussen, very far off towards the west. 



Started at 5.30 p. m. towards Cape Rigsdagen. After covering 

 12 kilometers they reached the land, which here tended south to south- 

 east and shortly after they met, quite unawares, Mylius-Erichsen's 

 party heading for the north. 



There was mutual surprise at this play n[ late which кч1 the two 

 sledge parties together just at the jxiint where, according to the original 

 plan, they should have separated. As they naturally had much to 

 tell each other fi'om the preceding month Mylius-Erichsen and 

 Koch immediately agreed to drive to the land and raise the tent in 

 company. 



The meeting iiad of course to be celebrated and as the 2nd party, 

 owing to an involuntery fast at Peary Land, were comparatively 

 well provided with European provisions, the feast was held in Koch's 

 tent. The meal consisted of black coffee and biscuits with butter. 

 After the coffee Tobias provided tobacco, Brønlund cigarettes. 



Mylius-Erichsen then told them the following 2. 



After Koch had driven out over the sea-ice on the 1st of May, 

 the 1st party had proceeded westwards along a coast where the in- 



* It was not »lutil July — August about ouo luontli after the return, that they 

 were again quite well. 



^ Of Mvlius-Erichsen's ar-couut ivocii has liure only noteil certain parts, 

 not stated in Bfkini.und's diary. 



