Note 43 — Chapter II · PENDULUM ISLAND. STATE OF THE ICE NORTHWARDS. LANDING ON SHANNON ISLAND.

The question has been raised several times, especially inland, as to why, being unable to advance along the land ice, I did not re-enter the pack and work my way through it northwards, and, in a higher latitude, again try to reach the coast. This is opposed to all experience: it has long been known that in a stream of heavy ice, in fact in the so-called pack, never, nor at any place, with the strongest and best steamer, has any considerable progress been made without the coast as a support. Had I wished to have reached the coast at a more northerly point, I should have had to penetrate the ice-barrier, again to steer along the northern border, and force my way into the pack once more in 78°. Such a proceeding would certainly never have been followed by the desired result, and it would have been unjustifiable to give up a basis, reached with so much trouble, to follow a phantom.—Koldewey.