28 OBJECTS OF THE EXPEDITION 



lectures, films, etc. It will seek contact with Danes in overseas ports. In 

 former Danish colonies it will endeavour to procure illustrative material 

 and if possible will collect Danish relics, at the responsibility of the leader 

 and the ship's commander. 



Other work permitting, the expedition will take short educational films 

 of places visited and will endeavour to have recordings made of important 

 events, interesting visits, and the like, for broadcasting by the Danish radio. 



It will be clear from the above that a variety of tasks fell to the expedi- 

 tion besides its primary objects. Obviously, it was impossible to discharge 

 all of them, if only because of the shortage of time. As originally planned 

 the expedition should have lasted 24 months, but, as already related, we 

 were a fortnight late in starting and had to economize and cut the expedi- 

 tion short by three months. On a world voyage a certain amount of time 

 is taken up in navigation and this cannot be curtailed. More time is spent 

 in port on provisioning and repairs, shore leave for crew, routine and 

 emergency inspections, and so forth, and this too cannot be much reduced. 

 Consequently, the period of three and a half months that was lost was 

 taken almost entirely from the working time, the programme being cut 

 correspondingly. 



The chief credit for discharging the tasks as described in the chapters 

 that follow is due to the interest and spirit of cooperation shown by an 

 increasing number of people, from the time when Captain Greve first 

 listened to my vague outlines of a deep-sea expedition, many years ago, 

 till the realization of all our dreams in a fully manned and well-equipped 

 ship. To be in charge of such an expedition on the day of our departure 

 was a heavy responsibility. But soon the burden was shared by all on 

 board, just as all may take justified pleasure in the results achieved. 



