314 ^4 rctic and A nt arctic Rxploration [part i 
Although Nordenskiold's wonderful expedition in the 
Vega had brought the protracted struggle for the North 
East Passage to a successful conclusion, the North West 
Passage, though known throughout the greater part of 
its extent, still remained unconquered. It fell to a 
Norwegian with seven companions in a small fishing boat 
to accomplish this remarkable journey. The Gjoa, a 
cutter-rigged herring-boat, fitted with a 13 h.p. motor, 
under command of Roald Amundsen, with a crew of 
seven men, sailed from Christiania June 16th, 1903, and 
arrived off Godhavn on July 24th. Melville Bay offered 
fortunate ice conditions, and they reached Dalrymple 
Rock, where 105 cases of stores had been left for them, 
on August 15th. They now had 4245 gallons of petrol 
aboard. Erebus Bay in Beechey L was reached August 
22nd, and the season being an exceptionally favourable 
one they made rapid progress, and passing down the east 
side of King William Land found Simpson Strait leading 
to the westward quite free from ice. But, though it was 
tempting to press on, they were on the look-out for a 
wintering spot for magnetic observations, and they were 
fortunate enough to discover an ideal situation in a small 
sheltered bay in the south-east part of King William 
Land. Here stores were landed and houses and an obser- 
vatory built in mid-September. The bay was named 
Gjoahavn. Meanwhile Lund the mate and Hansen the 
astronomer were sent to an island in the middle of Simpson 
Strait, known to be the resort of reindeer in the autumn, 
and returned with twenty. At Hall Point, the southern 
end of King William Land, two skeletons of white men 
were found, which were considered to be undoubtedly 
those of two members of the Franklin expedition, who, 
it will be remembered, made their retreat southward 
along the western shore of King William Land. Reindeer 
became later very numerous even at Gjoahavn itself, as 
many as 13 being shot in one day by a single sportsman. 
Birds too, such as geese and ptarmigan, were also plentiful. 
Later, Eskimos appeared; they were very friendly and 
some remained all the winter. They were afterwards 
found to be very numerous. 
Sledging journeys of a modest nature were made in 
the spring and surveys taken, etc. The summer and 
