JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact support@jstor.org. . SINCE Greenland was discovered about nine hundred years ago, ths interior of that continent has remained a mystery to Europeans as well as to the Eskimos, and

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... many are the opinions and suggestions which have been put forth as to its real nature. Our forefathers the old Vikings, who first discovered Greenland, maintaiIled that it was oily the land near the coasts which was not ice-and snow-clad, whilst tlle interior was covered with a sheet of ice so thick that ouly in some few places could you see the ground underneath. This is, indeed, a fSirly correct view, and until quite recently nobody knew more of it than this. Many attempts have been made to penetrate into this mysterious interior. I shall here only briefl) mention a few of them. The firet expedition known of was one undertaken in the middle of last century by a Dane, Paars, who was major in the Danish army, and the first, and last, Governor of Greenland. He was sent by the Danish Government, with an escort of about twerity soldiers, with wives and children, twelve horsesn guns, &c., and was ordered to cross Greenland on horseback from the west coast, and when he reached the east coast to build a fortress, found a colony, and take care of the old Nolsemen who were thought still to survive. I need not tell you that this expedition only reached the inland ice, and returned filled with horror. Major Paars wrote a very vivid description of the fearful dangers that would be encountered on an expedition on the inland ice. The impossibility of crossing Greeliland was at once settled. Notwithstanding this there have been a great many attempts since that time. Another Scandinavian, Dalager, who also lived in the last centur;y, was more fortunate, and really walked over the ice several miles. Several Norwegians and Danes have also lnade the attempt this centur, but did not succeed. In 1867 two well-known Englishmen, the famous NO. VTII. AUG. 1889.] 2 I This content downloaded from 194.29.185.230 on Sat, 14 Jun 2014 02:05:09 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 470 JOURNEY ACROSS THE INLAND ICE alpinist, Whymper, and Dr. Robert Brown, also tried to penetrate into the interior? but were unfortunate. They met with very difficult ice, and were obliged to return when soine few miles from the coast. Zlore fortunate were the following expeditions: that of Baron Nordenskiold in 1870; the Danes, Captairl Jensen, Rornerup, and Grotb, 1878; Nordenskiold again in 1883; and the American Peary with the Dane M?aigaard in 1886. These last reaolled about 100 miles from the coast, and a height of about 7500 feet. All those attempts were reade from the west coast, but from the little-known east coast nobody had tried so far as is known. Eomr the plan of my es:pedition across Greenland was ripened in my youthful brain I shall not try to explain here I got the idea one day in 1882, whilst on board a Norwegian sealing ship; we were icebourld for twenty-four days near the still unknown part of the east coast of Greenland, and *om that tirne I could not get it out of lny mind. My opinion was that if an expedition was fitted out in a proper nvay it was not at all an impossibility to cross Greenland, and that the very men for such an es:pedition would be Norwegian "ski-ranners." The Norwegian snowshoes called " ski " are just the thing for traversing snow-fields, and that snow would be found in the interior of Greenland I never doubted. But therc was another thing which also in nly opinion was of the greatest importance, and that was the place from which to start. If we started from the west coast of Greenland I was quite sure we should not be able to cross, for then we should have the fesh-pots of Eg;>pt behind us, and in front of us would be the ice-desert and the ea#t coast, which is not much better, and when we reached this coast we should have to cross again to the west coast to be rescued. Even if one could keep up his own spirit to this he might not be able to force his men forward when the food began to decrease. I thought the ouly certain way was to penetrate the floe-ice and land on the desolate and ice-bound east aoast between 65? and 66? N. latitude, and make that the starting-point for the inhabited west coast; in that way we should, as it were burn all bridges behind us, and it would not be necessary to force the men forward, for they would nertainly have no temptation to return, whilst in front of us we should have the west coast inviting us with all the comforts of civilisation. The men had no ahoice, only forward. Our order was death or the west coast of Greenland. In this way was it accomplished. When I filst put forth my plan to cross Greenland most people said I was either mad or tirod of life. Neither was, however, the case, and, notwitllstanding all warnings, more than forty men offered to accompany me. I selected three Norwegians, viz. Captain Sverdrup, Lieut. Dietrichsen, and a peasant, }iristian :Eristiansen Trana Fron Lapland I got two Lapps, Samuel Balto and Ole Ravna, who I hoped would in various respects be of use to us, but I was rather This content downloaded from 194.29.185.230 on Sat,