Farewell to Norway. 131 



flutes and guitars ; .then chess, draughts, etc., all for the 

 recreation of the company." 



Here follows a description of the Frain, her general 

 equipments, and commissariat. It seems to have made 

 a great impression on him that we had no wine (brandy) 

 on board. " I was told," he exclaims, " that only among 

 the medicine stores have they some 20 or 30 bottles 

 of the best cognac pure, highly rectified spirit. It is 

 Nansen's opinion that brandy-drinking in these northern 

 regions is injurious, and may, if indulged in on such a 

 difficult and dangerous voyage, have very serious 

 consequences ; he has therefore considered it expedient 

 to supply its place by fruit and various sorts of sweets, of 

 which there are large supplies on board," "In harbour 

 the crew spent most of the day together ; in spite of 

 community of work, each individual's duties are fixed 

 down to the minutest detail. They all sit down to 

 meals together, with the exception of the acting cook ; 

 whose duty they take by turns. Health and good spirits 

 are to be read on every face ; Nansen's immovable 

 faith in a successful and happy issue to their expedi- 

 tion inspires the whole crew with courage and 

 confidence." 



" On August 3rd they shifted coal on board the 

 Fram, from the ship's hold down to the stoke hold 

 (coal bunkers). All the members of the expedition took 

 part in this work, Nansen at their head, and they worked 

 unitedly and cheerfully. This same day Nansen and his 



K 2 



