Report on the Danmark expedition to the north-east coast. 171 



sumed much more of the provisions and dog-food than calculated, 

 and the men as well as the dogs were very exhausted. 



It was owing to these causes, that G. Thostrup and Lindhard 

 found it too dangerous to travel further north across the land in order 

 this way to try and get round the open water off Mallemukfjæld. 



They were undoubtedly right. From the condition of the dogs 

 after the return to the ship it was evident that the limits to their power 

 of endurance had been reached. Besides those which died on the 

 way, there were several others which died shortly after the return 

 journey. They were all л^егу emaciated and exhausted and many 

 of them never reached their former state of health. 



While the relief expedition was on its way, those behind on the 

 ship had not been idle. Among the works that were carried out may 

 be mentioned: 



Setting up the meteorological station in Pustervig, 



-^9 to "/„, 1907. 



As already mentioned, Wegener desired to raise a meteorologi- 

 cal station at the head of Mørke Fjord as near as possible to the in- 

 land ice, because he considered it of interest to make comparative 

 obserл'ations at this place and out at Cape Bismarck. The material 

 required for the station had previously been transported out to Sne- 

 næs (see p. 163). 



On September 25th Freuchen, Jarner and Weinschenck 

 started with a sledge drawn by the motor-car for the purpose of bring- 

 ing the goods from Snenæs out to Hvalrosodden and from there 

 into the Mørke Fjord. It appeared, however, that Mørke Fjord was 

 still open and they therefore had to unload the stores at theMonument- 

 fjæld 1. 



From September 26th to the 29th Knud Christiansen and 

 Hagerup each drove a dog sledge \vith stores down to the station. 



On September 27th it was blowing hard from the north 

 лvith a Ьеал'у fall of snow. This morning Weinschenck began the 

 return journey with the motor-car from Hvalrosodden, ^^^thout pro- 

 л'151оп8 but with tent and sleeping bag. Off Snenæs he stuck fast 

 in the snow and had to raise his tent. 



On September 28th the weather was the same. During a 

 short luU he took the tent and sleeping bag on his back and went 

 down to Stormnæs where he knew he would find half a tin of pem- 

 mican. Here he was again obliged to raise his tent and only on the 

 29th did he reach the ship on foot. 



1 On the chart in Medd. om Gronl., XLVI, Xo. 2, PI. Ill, this hill is called 

 Danmarks Monument. 



