Report on the Danmark expedition to the north-east coast. 169 



the compass. They had to work their way through the newly fallen 

 soft snow, about a foot deep over the level ground, still deeper in the 

 slopes. After 7 hours' hard march they reached Bagatellerne on the 

 northern side of the Nioghalvfjerdsfjord. 



Here G. Thostrup decided to deposit 2 sledge-cases, 1 box of 

 dog-pemmican and 10 quarts of petroleum, as the miserable sledging 

 conditions prevented them from advancing quickly enough with the 

 heavy loads. 



On October 13th they advanced further north along Нол'- 

 gaards Island. In the spring there had been screwed pack-ice here, 

 but now they found large and level ice-fields covered with deep snow. 

 It looked as if there had been open water along the coast in the course 

 of the summer. After 7 hours' march they had only covered 18 kilo- 

 meters. 



On October 14th they continued the journey northwards 

 following the coast and at some places the sledging was fairly good. 

 They passed a long fissure which ran along the coast. After covering 

 about 24 kilometers they were stopped by open water off a glacier, 

 the open water reaching close to the coast. G. Thostrup therefore drove 

 up on the glacier and here the tent was raised after 7 ^2 hours' march. 



October 15th. Fortunately the open water was only of small extent. 

 After covering 4 kilometers northwards on the glacier they could 

 again drive out on the sea-ice and were now heading for the depot. 

 They were however forced into the bay by the long fissure observed 

 the day before, which suddenly bent westwards forming a large clearing 

 with open water. 



After 6 hours' march the party reached the depot at 4 p. m. It 

 was untouched with unfortunately no news of Mylius-Erichsen. 



On October 16th they had a rest, which the dogs were badly 

 in want of. Much of the deposited bear meat had been consumed 

 by foxes but there was still a good deal left. 



On October 17th they drove on again following the coast. 

 The ice was newly frozen and often moved up and down when they 

 drove across it. Near the Mallemukfjæld the party were stopped by 

 open water which reached as far southwards as they could see. They 

 mounted the glacier in order to get a view of the situation and saw 

 now, that the open water reached close to the coast north of the Malle- 

 mukfjæld. The only way in which to proceed was therefore by land, 

 but this was impossible under the prevailing conditions; on this both 

 Lindhard and G. Thostrup were agreed. 



The party therefore returned to the depot, where they left every- 

 thing they could dispense with, among other things 1 sledge-case, 20 

 quarts of petroleum and 2 boxes of dog-pemmican. A report con- 

 taining all the necessary information for Mvlius-Eriohsen was Avritten 

 by G. Thostrup and placed in the depot. 



