Farthest North. Being the record of a voyage of exploration of the ship 'Fram,' 1893-96, and of a fifteen months' sleigh journey by Dr. Nansen and Lieut. Johansen ... With an appendix by Otto Sverdrup, etc

Appendix

BY OTTO SVERDRUP CAPTAIN OF THE FRAM About 120 Full-page and Numerous Text Illustrations 16 Colored Plates in Facsimile from Dr. Nansen's Own Sketches, Etched Portrait, Photogravures, and If Maps IN TWO VOLUMES Vol. II. NEW YORK HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS Copyright, 1897, by Harper & Brothers. All rights reserved. CONTENTS OF VOL. II. CHAP- I. We Prepare for the Sledge Expedition . . i II. The New Year, 1895 41 III. We Make a Start go IV. We Say Good-bye to the " Fram " .... 132 V. A Hard Struggle 157 VI. By Sledge and Kayak 236 VII. Land at Last 308 VIII. The New Year, 1896 454 IX. The Journey Southward 487

APPENDIX.

Report of Captain Otto Sverdrup on the Drifting of the "Fram" from March 14, 1895. I. March 15 to June 22, 1895 601 II. June 22 to August 15, 1895 633 III. August 15 to January i, 1896 648 IV. January i to May 17, 1896 668 V. The Third Summer 683 Conclusion ILLUSTRATIONS IN VOL. II. PAGE SAILING KAYAKS (Photogravure) Frontispiece HJALMAR JOHANSEN Facing p. 2 AT THE SUPPER-TABLE (FEBRUARY 14, 1 895) 9 SCOTT-HANSEN'S OBSERVATORY 17 MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT IN THE SALOON 35 CAPTAIN SVERDRUP IN HIS CABIN 49 THE " FRAM " IN THE ICE (Photogravure) . . . Facing p. 54 "ALL HANDS ON DECK!" 56 " A MOST REMARKABLE MOON " 65 THE " FRAM " AFTER AN ICE-PRESSURE (JANUARY IO, 1 895) 67 THE WINTER NIGHT (JANUARY 14, 1895) 71 A WHIST-PARTY IN THE SALOON (FEBRUARY 1 5, 1895) . 79 UPPER END OF THE SUPPER-TABLE (FEBRUARY 1 5, 1 895) 83 STOPPING A DOG-FIGHT 85 LOWER END OF SUPPER-TABLE 87 THE CREW OF THE " FRAM " AFTER THEIR SECOND WIN- TER (ABOUT FEBRUARY 24, 1 895) 93 THE "FRAM" IN THE ICE (1895) IO3 SUNDAY AFTERNOON ON BOARD .-..-.

IO7 THE COOKING APPARATUS ..." 122 THE START FROM THE " FRAM " (MARCH 14, 1895) . . 1 33 OUR LAST CAMP BEFORE PARTING FROM OUR COMRADES 1 37 A NIGHT CAMP ON THE JOURNEY NORTH 154 TAILPIECE 156 NORTHWARD THROUGH THE DRIFT -SNOW (APRIL, 1 895) 1 59 NOTHING BUT ICE, ICE TO THE HORIZON ( APRIL 7, 1895) Facingp. ILLUSTRATIONS PAGB OVER DIFFICULT PRESSURE-MOUNDS (APRIL, 1 895). . • 165 "I WENT ON AHEAD ON SNOW-SHOES " 169 "ON TOLERABLY GOOD GROUND" I71 OUR NORTHERNMOST CAMP, 86° 13.6' N. LAT. (APRIL 8, 1895) 173 " BARO," THE RUNAWAY Facing p. 178 REST (APRIL, 1895) l8l JOHANSEN CARVING OUR NAMES IN A STOCK OF DRIFT- WOOD 185 PECULIAR ICE STRATIFICATION (APRIL, 1 895) 1 87 " WE MADE FAIRLY GOOD PROGRESS " 203 REPAIRING THE KAYAKS 240 A COIGN OF VANTAGE. PACKED ICE 25 1 "A CURDLED SEA" 257 CHANNELS IN THE ICE IN SUMMER (JUNE, 1 895) . . . 263 " SUGGEN."

"KAIFAS" 277 CROSSING A CRACK IN THE ICE 287 JOHANSEN SITTING IN THE SLEEPING-BAG IN THE HUT . 293 CHANNELS IN THE ICE (JUNE 24, 1 895) 297 MY LAST DOG, " KAIFAS " 307 " INCREDIBLY SLOW PROGRESS " 323 "THIS INCONCEIVABLE TOIL" 327 " YOU MUST LOOK SHARP !" 33O WE REACH THE OPEN WATER (AUGUST 6, 1 895) . . . 337 ICEBERG ON THE NORTH SIDE OF FRANZ JOSEF LAND . 35 1 A PADDLE ALONG THE EDGE OF THE ICE 359 GLAZIER — FRANZ JOSEF LAND 36 1 A CAMP ON THE COAST OF FRANZ JOSEF LAND .... 367 CRACK IN THE ICE 375 "SAILING ALONG THE COAST" 378 A FIGHT AGAINST THE STORM TO REACH LAND (AUGUST 29. 1895) 38l WALRUSES 387 WE BUILD OUR FIRST HUT LLL USTRA TLONS IX PAGE WALRUSES 397 "IN THE WATER LAY WALRUSES" 4O9 "I PHOTOGRAPHED HIM AND THE WALRUS" . . . . 417 "IT GAZED WICKEDLY AT US " 419 AT OUR WINTER QUARTERS 43 I AN ILLEGIBLE PAGE FROM DIARY 437 OUR WINTER HUT (DECEMBER 31, 1 895) 45 1 "LIFE IN OUR HUT" 456 "JOHANSEN FIRED THROUGH THE OPENING" .... 468 "OUR WINTER LAIR" 489 SOUTHWARD (MAY, 1 896) 49 1 OVER THE ICE TOWARDS THE ISLAND (MAY, 24, 1896) 495 A SAIL WITH SLEDGES.

SOUTH OF CAPE RICHTHOFEN (JUNE 6, 1896) 507 "I MANAGED TO SWING ONE LEG UP " 5 1 5 "IT TRIED TO UPSET ME" 520 OUR LAST CAMP 523 FRANZ JOSEF LAND 528 MEETING OF JACKSON AND NANSEN 531 MR. JACKSON'S STATION AT CAPE FLORA 535 JOHANSEN AT CAPE FLORA 537 A CHAT AFTER DINNER 541 THE WOUNDED BEAR 543 NANSEN AT CAPE FLORA 545 A VISITOR 547 JACKSON ON CAPE FLORA 551 BASALTIC ROCK 554 A STRANGE ROCK OF BASALT 559 PLANT FOSSILS 56I KITTIWAKE ON HER NEST 565 BASALTIC CLIFFS 567 MR. JACKSON AT ELMWOOD 569 JOHANSEN IN JACKSON'S SALOON 57 1 CAPE FLORA. FAREWELL TO FRANZ JOSEF LAND . . . X LLL US 'PR A TLONS PAGE "WE STOOD LOOKING OVER THE SEA" 580 ARRIVAL AT HAMMERFEST 587 THE "WINDWARD" LEAVING TROMSO 591 TAILPIECE 597 ORIGINAL MAP OF KAISER FRANZ JOSEF LAND .... 599

APPENDIX.

DIGGING OUT THE "FRAM " (MARCH, 1 895) 603 THE " FRAM " WHEN DUG OUT OF THE PRESSURE-MOUND AT THE END OF MARCH, 1895 607 FITTING THE HAND-SLEDGES WITH RUNNERS (JULY, 1895) 6ll VIEW OVER THE DRIFT-ICE. DEPOT IN FOREGROUND . 615 PRESSURE-MOUND NEAR THE "FRAM" (APRIL, 1 895) . . 62 1 ICE-SMITHY (MAY, 1895) 625 THE "FRAM" BEFORE HER RELEASE 627 THE PROCESSION (MAY 1 7, 1 895) 629 TAILPIECE 632 CHANNEL ASTERN OF THE "FRAM" (JUNE, 1895) . . . 635 MOVABLE METEOROLOGICAL STATION ON THE ICE (JULY, 1895) 639 OBSERVATION WITH SEXTANT AND ARTIFICIAL HORIZON (JULY, 1895) 645 CLEANING THE ACCUMULATORS BEFORE STOWING AWAY (JULY, 1895) 653 WORKSHOP ON DECK (JULY, 1 895) 659 PETTERSEN AND BLESSING ON A HUMMOCK (APRIL, 1895) 673 LARS PETTERSEN ON SNOW-SHOES 679 TAILPIECE 682 FLAYING WALRUSES. 697 TAILPIECE 706 THE MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION AFTER THEIR RETURN TO CHRISTIANIA COLORED PLATES IN VOL. II.

IX. LIGHT PHENOMENA IN THE POLAR NIGHT (NOVEMBER 22, 1 893) Facing p. 96 X. THE POLAR NIGHT (NOVEMBER 24, 1 893) . . " 1 76 XL MOON-RING WITH MOCK MOONS, AND A SUG- GESTION OF HORIZONTAL AXES (NOVEM- BER 24, 1893) " 248 XII. MOONLIGHT PHENOMENA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE POLAR NIGHT (NOVEMBER, 1893) " 320 XIII. STREAMERS OF AURORA BOREALIS (NOVEM- BER 28, 1893) " 4OO XIV. ICE NEAR THE "FRAM" (JULY 4, 1894) . . " 472 XV. AURORA BOREALIS (OCTOBER 1 8, 1 894) ... " 584 XVI. AN AURORAL CROWN (DECEMBER, 1 894) . . "

Chapter I We Prepare For The Sledge Expedition

Who are to be the two members of the expedition ? Sverdrup and I have tested each other before at this sort of work, and we could manage very well ; but we cannot both leave the Fram : that is perfectly clear without further argument. One of us must remain be hind to take on himself the responsibility of bringing the others home in safety; but it is equally clear that one of us two must conduct the sledge expedition, as it is we who have the necessary experience. Sverdrup has a ereat desire to 2:0 ; but I cannot think otherwise than that there is more risk in leaving the Fram than in remaining on board her. Consequently if I were to let him go, I should be transferring to him the more dangerous task, while keeping the easier one to myself. If he perished, should I ever be able to forgive myself for letting him go, even if it was at his own desire ?

He is nine years older than I am ; I should certainly feel it 11.— to be a very uncomfortable responsibility. And as re gards our comrades, which of us would it be most to their interest to keep on board? I think they have con fidence in both of us, and I think either of us would be able to take them home in safety, whether with or with out the Fram. But the ship is his especial charge, while on me rests the conduct of the whole, and especially of the scientific investigations ; so that I ought to under take the task in which important discoveries are to be made. Those who remain with the ship will be able, as aforesaid, to carry on the observations which are to be made on board. It is my duty therefore, to go, and his to remain behind. He, too, thinks this reasonable. I have chosen Johansen to be my companion, and he is in all respects well qualified for that work.

He is an accomplished snow-shoer, and few can equal his powers of endurance — a fine fellow, physically and men tally. I have not yet asked him, but think of doing so soon, in order that he may be prepared betimes. Blessing and Hansen also would certainly be all eager ness to accompany me ; but Hansen must remain behind to take charge of the observations, and Blessing cannot desert his post as doctor. Several of the others, too, would do quite well, and would, I doubt not, be willing enough. This expedition to the north, then, is provisionally decided on. I shall see what the winter will brinous. Light permitting, I should prefer to start in February. HJALMAR JOHANSEN {From a photograph taken in December^ 1S93) WE PREPARE FOR THE SLEDGE EXPEDLTLON 3 "Sunday, November iSth. It seems as if I could not properly realize the idea that I am really to set out, and that in three months' time.

Sometimes I de lude myself with charming dreams of my return home after toil and victory, and then all is clear and bright. Then these are succeeded by thoughts of the uncer tainty and deceptiveness of the future and what may be lurking in it, and my dreams fade away like the northern lights, pale and colorless. " ' Ihr naht euch vvieder, schwankende Gestalten " Ugh ! These everlasting cold fits of doubt ! Be fore every decisive resolution the dice of death must be thrown. Is there too much to venture, and too little to gain ? There is more to be gained, at all events, than there is here. Then is it not my duty ? Besides, there is only one to whom I am responsible, and she . . . ? I shall come back, I know it. I have strength enough for the task. ' Be thou true unto death, and thou shalt inherit the crown of life.' " We are oddly constructed machines.

A.X. one mo ment all resolution, at the next all doubt. . . . To-day our intellect, our science, all our ' Leben und Treiben,' seem but a pitiful Philistinism, not worth a pipe of tobacco ; to-morrow we throw ourselves heart and soul into these very researches, consumed with a burning thirst, to ab sorb everything into ourselves, longing to spy out fresh paths, and fretting impatiently at our inability to solve the problem fully and completely. Then down we sink again in disgust at the worthlessness of it all. '"As a grain of dust on the balance is the whole world; as a drop of morning dew that falls on the ground.' If man has two souls, which then is the right one ? " It is nothing new to suffer from the fact that our knowledge can be but fragmentary, that we can never fathom what lies behind.

But suppose, now, that we could reckon it out, that the inmost secret of it all lay as clear and plain to us as a rule-of-three sum, should we be any the happier? Possibly just the reverse. Is it not in the struggle to attain knowledge that happi ness consists? I am very ignorant, consequently the conditions of happiness are mine. " Let me fill a soothing pipe and be happy. " No, the pipe is not a success. Twist tobacco is not delicate enough for airy dreams. Let me get a cigar. Oh, if one had a real Havana! "H'm! as if dissatisfaction, longing, suffering, were not the very basis of life. Without privation there would be no struggle, and without struggle no life, that is as certain as that two and two make four. And now the struggle is to begin ; it is looming yonder in the north. Oh, to drink delight of battle in long, deep draughts !

Battle means life, and behind it victory beck ons us on. " I close my eyes. I hear a voice singing to me : WE PREPARE FOR THE SLEDGE EXPEDLTLON 5 "'In amongst the fragrant birch, In amongst the flowers' perfume, Deep into the pine-wood's church.' " Monday, November 19th. Confounded iiffectation all this Weltschmerz ; you have no right to be anything but a happy man. aA.nd if you feel out of spirits, it ought to cheer you up simply to go on deck and look at these seven puppies that come frisking and springing about you, and are ready to tear you to pieces in sheer enjoyment of life. Life is sunshine to them, though the sun has long since gone, and they live on deck beneath a tent, so that they cannot even see the stars. There is ' Kvik,' the mother of the family, among them, looking so plump and contented as she wags her tail.

Have you not as much reason to be happy as they ? Yet they too have their misfortunes. The afternoon of the day before yesterday, as I was sitting at work, I heard the mill go ing round and round, and Peter taking food to the puppies, which, as usual, had a bit of a fight over the meat-pan ; and it struck me that the axle of the mill whirl ing unguarded on the deck was an extremely dangerous affair for them. Ten minutes later I heard a dog howling, a more long-drawn, uncomfortable kind of howl than was usual when they were fighting, and at the same moment the mill slowed down. I rushed out. There I saw a puppy right in the axle, whirling round with it and howl ing piteously, so that it cut one to the soul. Bentzen was hanging on to the brake-rope, hauling at it with all his might and main ; but still the mill went round.

My first idea was to seize an axe that was lying there to put the dog out of its misery, its cries were so heartrending ; but on second thoughts I hurried on to help Bentzen, and we got the mill stopped. At the same moment Mogstad also came up, and while we held the mill he managed to set the puppy free. Apparently there was still some life in it, and he set to work to rub it gently and coax it. The hair of its coat had somehow or other got frozen on to the smooth steel axle, and the poor beast had been swung round and bumped on the deck at every revolution of the wheel. At last it actually raised its head, and looked round in a dazed way. It had made a good many revolu tions, so that it is no wonder if it found some difficulty in getting its bearings at first. Then it raised itself on its fore-paws, and I took it aft to the half-deck and stroked and patted it.

Soon it got on all four legs again, and began shambling about, without knowing where it was going. " ' It is a good thing it was caught by the hair,' said Bentzen, ' I thought it was hanging fast by its tongue, as the other one did.' Only think of being fixed by the tongue to a revolving axle — the mere notion makes one shudder! I took the poor thing down into the saloon and did all I could for it. It soon got all right again, and began playing with its companions as before. A strange life to rummage about on deck in the dark and cold ; but whenever one goes up with a lantern they WE PREPARE FOR THE SLEDGE EXPEDLTLON 7 come tearing round, stare at the light, and begin bound ing and dancing and gambolling with each other round it, like children round a Christmas-tree. This goes on day after day, and they have never seen anything else than this deck with a tarpaulin over it, not even the clear blue sky ; and we men have never seen anything else than this earth !

" The last step over the bridge of resolution has now been taken. In the forenoon I explained the whole mat ter to Johansen in pretty much the same terms as I have used above ; and then I expatiated on the difficulties that might occur, and laid strong emphasis on the dangers one must be prepared to encounter. It was a serious matter — a matter of life or death — this one must not conceal from one's self. He must think the thing well over before determining whether he would accompany me or not. If he was willing to come I should be glad to have him with me ; but I would rather, I said, he should take a day or two to think it well over before he gave me his answer. He did not need any time for reflection, he said ; he was quite willing to go. Sverdrup had long ago mentioned the possibility of such an expe dition, and he had thought it well over, and made up his mind that if my choice should fall on him he would take it as a great favor to be permitted to accompany me. ' I don't know whether you'll be satisfied with this answer, or whether you would like me still to think it over ; but I should certainly never change my mind.' ' No, if you have already thought it seriously over — thought what risks you expose yourself to — the chance, for in stance, that neither of us may ever see the face of man again — and if you have reflected that even if we get through safe and sound you must necessarily face a great deal of hardship on an expedition like this — if you have made up your mind to all this I don't insist on your re flecting any longer about it.' ' Yes, that I have.' ' Well, then, that is settled.

To-morrow we shall begin our preparations for the trip. Hansen must see about ap pointing another meteorological assistant.' " Tuesday, November 20th. This evening I delivered an address to the whole ship's company, in which I an nounced the determination that had been arrived at, and explained to them the projected expedition. First of all, I briefly went through the whole theory of our under taking, and its history from the beginning, laying stress on the idea on which my plans had been built up — namely, that a vessel which got frozen in north of Siberia must drift across the Polar Sea and out into the Atlantic, and must pass somewhere or other north of Franz Josef Land and between it and the Pole. The object of the expedition was to accomplish this drift across the unknown sea, and to pursue investigations there.

I pointed out to them that these investigations would be of equal importance whether the expedition actually passed across the Pole itself or at some distance from it. Judging from our experiences hitherto, we could not eni. Scott- Hansen 2. Julianscn 3 Nanscn 4. Pettersen 5. Nnrdahl 6. Amundsen 7. Bentzen 8. Juell 9. Henriksen 10. Mojjstad u. Jacobsen 12. Blessing. 13. Sverdrup AT THE SUPPER-TABLE, FEBRUARY I 4, I 895. {By J ohtrn Nor dhagen, from a photograph) SLEDGE EXPEDITION n tertain any doubt that the expedition would solve the problem it had set before it ; everything had up to the present gone according to our anticipations, and it was to be hoped and expected that this would continue to be the case for the remainder of the voyage. Wre had, therefore, every prospect of accomplishing the principal part of our task ; but then the question arose whether more could not be accomplished, and thereupon I pro ceeded to explain, in much the same terms as I have used above, how this might be effected by an expedition northward.

" I had the impression that every one was deeply in terested in the projected expedition, and that they all thought it most desirable that it should be attempted. The greatest objection, I think, they would have urged against it, had they been asked, would have been that they themselves could not take part in it. I impressed on them, however, that while it was unquestionably a fine thing to push on as far as possible towards the north, it was no whit less honorable an undertaking to bring the Fram safe and sound right through the Polar Sea, and out on the other side ; or if not the Fram, at all events themselves without any loss of life. This done, we might say, without fear of contradiction, that it was well done. I think they all saw the force of this, and were satisfied. So now the die is cast, and I must believe that this expedition will really take place."

So we set about our preparations for it in downright earnest. I have already mentioned that at the end of the summer I had begun to make a kayak for a single man, the frame of which was of bamboo carefully lashed to gether. It was rather slow work, and took several weeks, but it turned out both light and strong. When com pleted the frame-work weighed 16 pounds. It was after wards covered with sail-cloth by Sverdrup and Blessing, when the whole boat weighed 30 pounds. After finishing this I had intrusted Mogstad with the task of building a similar one. Johansen and I now set to work to make a cover for it. These kayaks were 3.70 metres (12 feet) long, about 0.7 metre (28 inches) wide in the middle, and one was 30 centims. (12 inches) and the other 38 centims. (15 inches) deep. This is considerably shorter and wider than an ordinai-y Eskimo kayak, and conse quently these boats were not so light to propel through the water.

But as they were chiefly intended for crossing over channels and open spaces in the ice, and coasting along possible land, speed was not of much importance. The great thing was that the boats should be strong and light, and should be able to carry, in addition to ourselves, provisions and equipments for a considerable time. If we had made them longer and narrower, besides being heavier they would have been more exposed to injury in the course of transport over the uneven ice. As they were built they proved admirably adapted for our purpose. When we loaded them with care we could stow away in them provisions and equipment for three months at least SIEDGE EXPEDITION 13 for ourselves, besides a good detal of food for the dogs; and we could, moreover, carry a dog or two on the deck. In other respects they were essentially like the Eskimo kayaks, full decked, save for an aperture in the middle for a man to sit in.

This aperture was encircled by a wooden ring, after the Eskimo fashion, over which we could slip the lower part of our sealskin jackets, specially adjusted for this purpose, so that the junction between boat and jacket was water-tight. When these jackets were drawn tight round the wrists and face the sea might sweep right over us without a drop of water coming into the kayak. We had to provide ourselves with such boats in case of having to cross open stretches of sea on our way to Spitzbergen, or, if we chose the other route, be tween Franz Josef Land and Novaya Zemlya. Besides this aperture in the middle, there were small trap-doors fore and aft in the deck, to enable us to put our hands in and stow the provisions, and also get things out more readily, without having to take out all the freight through the middle aperture, in case what we wanted lay at either extremity.

These trap-doors, however, could be closed so as to be quite water-tight. To make the canvas quite impervious to water, the best plan would have been to have sized it, and then painted it externally with or dinary oil paint ; but, on the one hand, it was very dif ficult to do this work in the extreme cold (in the hold the temperature was —20° C, —4° Fahr.), and, on the other hand, I was afraid the paint might render the canvas too hard and brittle, and apt to have holes knocked in it during transport over the ice. Therefore I preferred to steep it in a mixture of paraffin and tallow, which added somewhat to the weight of the kayaks, so that altogether they came to weigh about 36 pounds apiece. I had, moreover, some hand -sledges made especially for this expedition ; they were supple and strong, de signed to withstand the severe tests to which an expedition with dogs and heavy freights over the uneven drift ice would necessarily expose them.

Two of these sledges were about the same length as the kayaks — that is, 1 2 feet. I also made several experiments with respect to the clothes we should wear, and was especially anxious to ascertain whether it would do to go in our thick wolfskin garments, but always came to the conclusion that they were too warm. Thus, on November 29th I write: "Took another walk northward in my wolfskin dress; but it is still too mild (-37.6° C). I sweated like a horse, though I went fasting and quite gently. It is rather heavy going now in the dark when one cannot use snow shoes. I wonder when it will be cold enough to use this dress." On December 9th again we went out on snow-shoes. " It was -41° C.(-4i.8° Fahr.). Went in wolfskin dress, but the perspiration poured down our backs enough to O turn a mill.

Too warm yet ; goodness knows if it ever will be cold enough." Of course, we made some experiments with the tent SLEDGE EXPEDITION 15 and with the cooking apparatus. On December 7th I write : " I pitched the silk tent we are going to take, and used our cooking apparatus in it. From repeated trials it appeared that from ice of —35° C. ( — 31° Fahr.), we boiled 3 litres of water (5^ pints), and at the same time melted 5 litres (8| pints) in an hour and a half, with a consumption of about 120 grammes of snowflake petro leum. Next day we boiled 2\ litres of water (over 4 pints), and melted 2\ litres in one hour with 100 grammes of snowflake petroleum. Yesterday we made about two litres of excellent oatmeal porridge, and at the same time got some half-melted ice and a little water in little over half an hour, with 50 grammes of snowflake petroleum.

Thus there will be no very great consumption of fuel in the day." Then I made all kinds of calculations and computa tions in order to find out what would be the most advan tageous kind of provisions for our expedition, where it was of the greatest moment that the food both for dogs and men should be nutritious, and yet should not weigh more than was absolutely necessary. Later on, in the list of our equipments, I shall give the final result of my deliberations on this matter. Besides all this, we had, of course, to consider and test the instruments to be taken with us, and to go into many other matters, which, though perhaps trifles in themselves, were yet absolutely neces sary. It is on the felicitous combination of all these trifles that ultimate success depends. We two passed the greater portion of our time in these preparations, which also kept many of the others pretty busy during the winter.

Mogstad, for instance, found steady employment in making sledges and fitting them with runners, etc. Sverdrup busied himself in making sleeping-bags and many other things. Juell was appointed dog-tailor, and when he was not busy in the galley, his time was devoted to taking the measurements of the dogs, making harness for them and testing it. Blessing, too, fitted up for us a small, light medicine-chest, containing selected drugs, bandages, and such other things as might be of use. One man was constantly employed in copying out all our journals and scientific observations, etc., etc., on thin paper in a contracted form, as I wanted, by way of doubly assuring their preservation, to take a copy of them along with me. Hansen was occupied in preparing tabular forms necessary for our observations, curves of the movement of our chronometers, and other such things.

Besides this, he was to make a complete chart of our voyage and drifting up to the present time. I could not, however, lay too great a claim on his valuable time, as it was necessary that he should con tinue his scientific observations without interruption. During this autumn he had greatly increased the com fort of his work by building, along with Johansen, an observation-hut of snow, not unlike an Eskimo cabin. He found himself very much at his ease in it, with a petroleum lamp hanging from the roof, the light of which, being reflected by the white snow walls, made quite a SCOTT-HANSEn's OBSERVATORY EXPEDLTLON 19 brilliant show. Here he could manipulate his instruments quietly and comfortably, undisturbed by the biting wind outside. He thought it quite warm there, too, when he could get the temperature up to something like 20° below freezing-point, so that he was able without much inconvenience to adjust his instruments with bare hands.