ch. xxxvn] Greenland and its Inland Ice 
339 
Lee, the coloured man Henson, four natives, six sledges, 
and sixty dogs. The first depot could not be found, 
being buried under the snow, and — a far more serious 
blow — they also failed to find the second depot with all 
their pemmican, 1400 lb. On entering the fourth week 
the party began the eastward slope with only 17 dogs 
left out of 42. The survivors had to be fed with dogs 
and soon only 11 were left. One cannot help feeling glad 
when Peary and his two comrades had to get into the 
drag-ropes themselves. At last they left the ice and 
pushed on to the land in the hope of finding musk oxen, 
and reaching the valley succeeded in shooting two of 
these animals and a hare. 
When the return journey was begun on June 3rd 
Peary had nine dogs and fourteen days' rations for them, 
and thirty days' half rations of biscuits and oil, and 
seventeen of frozen meat for the men. On the 10th 
there were only six dogs, and on the 22nd one alone 
survived. The men had four biscuits left when they 
reached the house at Whale Sound. 
The results which Peary claimed were the discovery 
of Independence Bay, of the northern end of Greenland, 
of a channel dividing that great mass of land from large 
islands to the north, and of Greenland's insularity, and 
for many years these features have been shown on the 
maps. It has now been found that he did not discover the 
actual north end of Greenland, and that his channel does 
not exist. Peary nevertheless did real good in improving 
the condition of the Arctic Highlanders by supplying them 
with canvas and improved weapons. With better means 
of obtaining sustenance the death rate is said to have 
decreased and there are signs of an increase in the 
population of this most interesting northern tribe. 
Dr Cook's census gave the number at 233. Peary 
discovered near Cape York, and brought home, the three 
great meteoric stones from which the Arctic Highlanders 
used to obtain the iron for their knives. 
22 — 2 
