chap i INTRODUCTORY n 



It went up with us in pieces, and was still in that disjunctive 

 condition when we began our journey into the interior. We 

 were then absent from the coast for thirty-six consecutive 

 days. During this time, whenever we did not sleep in the 

 open air, our only shelter was a tiny tent not tall enough to 

 stand up in, which barely kept out the rain and not at all the 

 cold. On our return I only remained in camp at Advent 

 Point long enough to overhaul the baggage and obtain pos- 

 session of the 1 2-ton iron steamer in which the rive of 

 us, cooped up with all our belongings in a cabin without 

 floor-space for all to stand up at one time, voyaged over a 

 thousand miles, often in the midst of heavy ice, and along 

 coasts, through straits, and up bays for the most part never 

 before visited except by properly-built Arctic vessels, and 

 not often even by them. Returning to Advent Point, some 

 of us spent one more night there in our tents, some two, 

 and then we quitted it finally. 



What was accomplished during our journey of 1896 in 

 some respects surpassed, in others fell short, of our ex- 

 pectations. 



We crossed overland from Advent Bay to Klok Bay, 

 from Klok Bay to Sassen Bay, and from Sassen to Agardh 

 Bay, on the east coast, and back to Advent Bay. W T e made 

 in all thirteen mountain ascents. We brought home a sketch 

 survey of an area of about 600 square miles in the heart of 

 the interesting middle belt of the country, besides a more 

 rapid outline survey of the hills on either side of Wijde Bay. 

 In addition, fortune enabled us to perform, round the coasts 

 of Spitsbergen, the most complete voyage of reconnaissance 

 ever accomplished in a single season. We almost circum- 

 navigated the main island. We visited and entered to their 

 heads all the great fjords that penetrate it, except Van Keu- 

 len's Bay, Cross Bay, Liefde Bay, and Lomme Bay. We saw 

 the west, north, and south coasts of North-East Land from 



