Preparations and Equipment. 77 



so much responsibility, Von Toll determined to establish 

 the depots himself, and in May, 1893, he set out on an 

 adventurous and highly interesting journey from the 

 mainland over the ice to the New Siberian Islands, where, 

 besides laying down three depots for us,* he made 

 some very important geological researches. 



Another important matter, I thought, was to have a 

 cargo of coal sent out as far as possible on our route, so 

 that when we broke off all connection with the rest of the 

 world we should have on board the Fram as much coal 

 as she could carry. I therefore joyfully accepted an offer 

 from an Englishman, who was to accompany us with his 

 steam yacht to Novaya Zemlya or the Kara Sea, and 

 give us 100 tons of coal on parting company. As our 

 departure was drawing nigh I learnt, however, that other 

 arrangements had been made. It being now too late to 

 take any other measures, I chartered the sloop Urania, 

 of Bronosund in Nordland, to bring a cargo of coals to 

 Khabarova on the Yugor Strait. 



* These depots were arranged most carefully and every precaution so 

 well taken that we certainly should not have suffered from famine had 

 we gone there. In the northernmost depot at Stan Durnova on the 

 west coast of Kotelnoi, at 75 37' N.L., we should have found provisions 

 for a week ; with these we could easily have made our way 65 miles 

 southwards along the coast to the second depot at Urassalach, where, in 

 a house built by Baron Von Toll in 1886, we should have found 

 provisions for a whole month. Lastly, a third depot in a house on the 

 south side of Little Liakhoff Island, with provisions for two months, 

 would have enabled us to reach the mainland with ease. 



