142 G. Amdrup. 



steeply towards the sea. From the top of the island Bistrup had 

 an excellent station for surveying with a good view towards the south. 



May 7th. The day was spent in repairing the sledges, the dogs 

 in the course of the night having eaten most of the sledge straps. 

 Departure at 9.30 p. m. 



May Sth. The men were forced by fog to pitrli the lent a1 3.30 

 a. m. near a small island at ca. 78° N. lat. 



May 9th. From 2 a. m. till 8 a. m. they covered the distance 

 from the island to the northern end of He de France, the steep slopes 

 of which fall down to the sea from a height of ca. 75 meters. The island 

 has a flat and snow-covered top: here surveying and observations 

 were made. Towards the east, as far as the eye reached, they saw 

 nothing but ice, far away screw-ice but close under land large fields 

 of new ice. 



May 10th. At 6 a. m. the journey was cuntimird along the western 

 side of the island. The influence of the sun was gradually more and 

 more felt; the sledging became heavier, the higher the sun rose in 

 the sky. On the whole both Bistrup and Ri.nx; found it very hot 

 that day (the temperature at the station in Danmark Havn was on 

 10th May at 8 a. m. — 7.9"^ and at 2 p. m. — 4.3°). At 1.30 p. m. 

 they reached the S.W. point, where a drag-sledge party from the ship 

 had laid out a depot for them. They took what they needed from 

 the depot and made a survey. 



May 11th. Bistrup climbed the southern point of the island 

 and found the cairn built by the Duke of Orleans' expedition. It 

 had, howeл■eг, already been visited by the above-mentioned drag- 

 sledge party. They made a survey and observations near the cairn 

 and in the evening began the return journey. 



May 12th. At noon they reached the depot near Cape Marie 

 Valdemar where everything they could spare of provisions and dog 

 food was deposited. 



May 13th. At 1 p. in. Bistrup and Rixt; returned to the ship 

 after 47 days' absence. 



Taken as a wlmle the journey had been as successful as could 

 be expected. The weather had been very favourable, as a rule clear 

 and only a little wind. A few times they had fog. Bistrup had there- 

 fore been able to work out the task entrusted to him and had sup- 

 plemented Koch's surveys during the journey north by charting and 

 examining the long row of islands lying off the coast. During the 

 whole journey he had had first-rate assistance from his excellent com- 

 panion, the clever and willing Ring. 



As to the ice conditions on the stretch covered Bistrup made 

 the following observations. 



In the bay between 79' and 80" the inland ice ran far Dut, merg- 



