Report on the Danmark expedition to the north-east coast. 187 



It had been a very intersting excursion. They had seen that 

 behind the ca. 40 kilometers broad belt of inland ice, Storstrømmen, 

 there was an extensive ice-free tract of land which would undoubtedly 

 be a large and interesting field for further exploration, a land which 

 they had now set foot upon. They had become acquainted with the 

 character of the inland ice in these regions and brought home with 

 them collections of plants, rocks and fossils. 



After the departure of Bertelsen's party the men at the station 

 in Danmarks Havn put the final touches to the careful preparations 

 made during the past months for the relief and search expedition 

 towards the north. 



The sledges yvere carefully examined and repaired and skis to 

 put under the runners of the sledges were made. Dog traces and 

 harness, straps, skis and ski-straps were also made ready, wind clothes 

 and reindeer skin coats sewTi and tents and sleeping-bags repaired. 

 The provisions were packed up and put into boxes. The dog pem- 

 mican was mixed and made into cakes, cartridges were loaded and 

 many other things. 



The dogs were given plenty of food in order to get them into 

 good condition. 



To get them some fresh meat if possible, Petek Hansen and 

 Ring camped out at Maroussia from the 29th of February tül the 

 8th of March looking for bears. But they did not find even a trace 

 of them. 



On the same day that Peter Hansen and Ring returned empty- 

 handed, Hendrik Olsen and Charles Poulsen on the other hand 

 came back from Pustervig with a bear, which Freuchen had shot 

 in there, so they did nevertheless get some fresh meat for the dogs 

 before the departure of the expedition, which took place a few days 

 later. 



Relief and search journey with the siedge northwards, 



1" 3 to а-^/з, 1908. 



The only members of this expedition were Koch and Tobias 

 Gabrielsen and the aim was to get information regarding the fate 

 of Mylius-Erichsen, Hoeg-Hagen and Bronlund. 



The plan was to proceed along the outer coast in order to examine 

 all the depots north of Schnauders Island. It was taken for granted, 

 namely, that if Mylius-Erichsen had turned southwards he would 

 as long as possible follow the depots, partly to make use of them, 

 partly because on tliis route he might expect to meet any possible 

 relief expedition sent out from the ship. Had he been forced by cir- 

 cumstances — e. g. open water — to travel on the inland ice, Koch 



