2i4 l Chapter VI. 



pation. Those that involved the greatest labour 

 were, of course, the meteorological observations, which 

 were taken every four hours day and night ; indeed, 

 for a considerable part of the time, every two hours. 

 They kept one man, sometimes two, at work 

 all day. It was Hansen who had the principal charge 

 of this department, and his regular assistant until 

 March, 1895, was lohansen, whose place was then taken 

 by Nordahl. The night observations were taken by 

 whoever was on watch. About every second day when 

 the weather was clear, Hansen and his assistant took the 

 astronomical observation which ascertained our position. 

 This was certainly the work which was followed with 

 most interest by all the members of the expedition ; and it 

 was not uncommon to see Hansen's cabin, while he was 

 making his calculations, besieged with idle spectators, 

 waiting to hear the result whether we had drifted 

 north or south since the last observation, and how far. 

 The state of feeling on board very much depended on 

 these results. 



Hansen had also at stated periods to take observations 

 to determine the magnetic constant in this unknown 



O 



region. These were carried on at first in a tent, 

 specially constructed for the purpose, which was soon 

 erected on the ice ; but later we built him a large snow 

 hut, as being both more suitable and more comfortable. 



For the ship's doctor there was less occupation. He 

 looked long and vainly for patients, and at last had to 



