GROCERIES AND MEDICAL STORES 71 



explorers helping themselves to a sweetmeat or a piece 

 of chocolate. An establishment at Drammen gave us 

 as much fruit syrup as we could drink, and if the giver 

 only knew how many times we blessed the excellent 

 product he supplied, I am sure he would be pleased. 

 On the homeward march from the Pole we looked 

 forward every day to getting nearer to our supply of 

 syrup. 



From three different firms in Christiania we received 

 all our requirements in the way of cheese, biscuits, tea, 

 sugar, and coffee. The packing of the last-named was 

 so efficient that, although the coffee was roasted, it is 

 still as fresh and aromatic as the day it left the ware- 

 house. Another firm sent us soap enough for five 

 years, and one uses a good deal of that commodity even 

 on a Polar voyage. A man in Christiania had seen to 

 the care of our skin, hair, and teeth, and it is not his 

 fault if we have not delicate skins, abundant growth 

 of hair, and teeth like pearls, for the outfit was certainly 

 complete enough. 



An important item of the equipment is the medical 

 department, and here my advisers were Dr. Jacob Roll 

 and Dr. Holth; therefore nothing was wanting. A 

 chemist in Christiania supplied all the necessary medi- 

 cines as a contribution, carefully chosen, and beautifully 

 arranged. Unfortunately no doctor accompanied the 

 expedition, so that I was obliged to take all the responsi- 

 bility myself. 



