Report on the Danmark expedition to the north-east coast. 209 



of two geese, a ptarmigan and a tin of beef. We followed the coast 

 southwards and went up on the land at the place where we shot a 

 musk-ox the other day, in order to look for more musk-oxen, but 

 this time we did not even find tracks of them. On our way we shot 

 two ptarmigans and saw two hares but they were so shy, that we could 

 not get within gun-reach. After having been away for 24 hours we 

 returned on the 7th in the evening very tired, for we had been walking 

 on bare stones. We have no food to give to the dogs which are very 

 thin. We do not know what to do now, because the land where we 

 are is completely devoid of animals. 



I go about in a constant dread that we shall be without dogs 

 when we have to start on the long return journey to the ship and we 

 dare not think of covering the 500 miles on foot, considering the boots 

 we have. 



August 8th. Mylius decided that we should leave our present 

 grounds and we all think it quite reasonable to try and get to a place 

 where there are animals. 



Though луе did not know anything about the conditions we broke 

 up. As the ice along the beach near us had melted, we ferried our 

 few things out on a floe of ice, and as the floe was quite small we had 

 to repeat the transport several times though it was not л^егу much 

 we had with us. At last at 10 in the evening we were all 3 together 

 with our dogs over on the ice. 



After loading our sledges we set off glad and happy to be sledging 

 again; we now hoped to come up on land at a place that would cause 

 us less trouble. 



As the ice along the shore had thawed most we drove further 

 out, for as far as our eyes could reach the ice looked better out at sea. 

 And if it was so, we intended to follow the good ice southwards and 

 seek into the large bay where we had stayed during the month of 

 May and where we were sure to fmd musk-oxen. 



As we had to make many detours on account of the fissures, I 

 went first and showed the way. But after covering a little more than 

 4 miles we found that we could proceed no further, the fissures be- 

 coming so broad that we could not get across them. 



So we again had to pitch the tent out on the ice towards the 

 morning. As it was very cold that night a comparatively thick ice 

 formed in the fissures and we took comfort in the thought, that in 

 some days the thin ice would be able to bear. 



But alas that was not to be. Our only provisions consisted of 

 8 ptarmigans and 1 goose: for the dogs we had nothing. 



During the following days we tried to reach the land, but as 

 the thaw was constantly increasing it became more difficult. And 

 as Mylius these days suffered from severe pains in the stomach, our 

 prospects looked still worse and our anxiety increased. 



XLI. 14 



