714 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1912. 



This tent camp served as the center of a circle which we drew with a 

 radius of 5^ miles [on the circumference of which] cairns were erected. 

 A small tent which we had brought with us in order to designate 

 the South Pole was put up here and the Norwegian flag with the 

 pennant of the Fram was hoisted above it. This Norwegian home 

 received the name of ' ' Polheim." According to the observed weather 

 conditions, tliis tent may remain there for a long time. In it we left 

 a letter addressed to His Majesty, King Haakon VII, in which we 

 reported what we had done. The next person to come there will 

 take the letter with him and see to its delivery. In addition, we 

 left there several pieces of clothmg, a sextant, an artificial horizon, 

 and a hypsometer. 



On December 17 we were ready to return. On our journey to the 

 pole we had covered 863 miles, according to the measurements of 

 the odometer; our mean daUy marches were therefore 15 miles. 

 When we left the pole we had 3 sleds and 17 dogs. We now ex- 

 perienced the great satisfaction of being able to increase our daily 

 rations, a measure which previous expeditions had not been able to 

 cany out, as they were all forced to reduce their rations, and that 

 at an early date. For the dogs, too, the rations were increased, and 

 from time to time they received one of their comrades as additional 

 food. The fresh meat revived the dogs and undoubtedly contributed 

 to the good results of the expedition. 



One last glance, one last adieu, we sent back to "Polheim.'' Then 

 we resumed our journey. We stUl see the flag; it still waves to us. 

 Gradually it diminishes in size and finally entirely disappeai*s from 

 our sight. A last greeting to the Little Norway lying at the South 

 Pole. 



We left King Haakon VII Plateau, which lay there bathed in 

 sunshine, as we had found it on our outward journey. The mean 

 temperature during our sojourn there was — 13° C. It seemed, 

 however, as though the weather was much milder. 



I shall not tire my esteemed auditors by a detailed description of 

 our return, but shall limit myself to some of the interesting episodes. 



The splendid weather with which we were favored on our return 

 displayed to us the panorama of the mighty mountam range which 

 is the contmuation of the two ranges which unite in 86° S. The 

 newly discovered range runs in a southeasterly direction and culmi- 

 nates in domes of an elevation of 10,000 to over 16,000 feet. In 

 88° S. this range disappears in the distance below the horizon. The 

 whole complex of newly discovered mountain ranges, which may 

 extend a (listance of over 500 miles, has been named the Queen 

 Maud Ranges. 



