ch. xlii] Danish Expeditions to Greenland 371 
Meanwhile there were diligent preparations during the 
winter for the great northern journeys. There were two 
extended sledge parties and two depot sledge parties, 
each with a team of 8 or 9 dogs and a load of 810 lb. 
This was to give two months' provisions for men, and 
one for dogs. The first sledge had Erichsen, Hagen, and 
the dog driver Bronlund; the second, Koch, the artist 
Bertelsen, and the dog driver Tobias Gabrielsen. The 
auxiliary sledges were under Wegener and Trostrup. 
The departure took place on the 28th March, Trostrup 
going back on the 22nd April and Wegener on the 26th. 
The explorers adopted an excellent plan of placing 
strips of walrus hide on the runners of the sledges with 
the hair outwards. Water was then poured along the 
hide, which becoming ice, was held in place by the 
hair. This was found to be an immense help to the dogs 
in dragging. 
Erichsen and Koch went on in company until the 
1st May, when they separated. Koch was to go 
north to Peary's furthest, and Erichsen to explore the 
channel, which Peary stated to exist, separating Greenland 
from the so-called Peary Land. The travelling had been 
bad, with many snow-covered fissures dangerous for 
the dogs, and lines of heavy pressed-up ice. A depot 
sufficient to bring both sledges back safely had been 
left in what was called Lambert Land, from that name 
occurring on some old Dutch charts in 78 0 N. The land 
projected much further east than was shown on the 
map, which increased the distance by 180 miles 1 . 
When Erichsen and Koch parted they each had 
15 days' provisions for men, the same for dogs and 25 of 
petroleum for fuel. Koch's way was difficult, over 
hummocks and soft snow very ill suited for dogs. Land 
was not in sight. A course was shaped for the land, and 
it was reached on the 7th Mav, six musk oxen being 
obtained on the same day. On the 12th Peary's cairn 
was found in 82 0 57' N., and the discovery of the east 
coast of Greenland was completed. Koch "continued to 
advance as far as Cape Bridgman, which was reached 
on May 21st. He was much hindered by dense fogs, 
but was able to carry out the exploration of Hyde Fjord. 
1 The easternmost point is in 8i° 24' N. and 12° W. 
24 — 2 
