192 



THE VOYAGE OF THE VEGA. 



[chap. 



bound, was something quite novel, as also were the effects which 

 long continued and severe cold exerts on animate and inanimate 

 objects. Before the attempt was made it was not considered 

 at all certain that men could actually endure the severe cold 

 of the highest north and the winter night three or four months 

 long. No wonder therefore that the skill and undaunted 

 resolution of the Dutch Polar explorers aroused unmingled 

 admiration among all civilised nations, and that the narrative 

 of their winterino: was received with unbounded interest and 



BARENTS HOUSE, OUTSIDE. 



From De Veer. 



formed the subject of innumerable writings and reproductions 

 both in prose and verse in almost all civilised languages. Only 

 a few facts from the journal of the wintering need therefore 

 be given here. 



On the jth November the sun disappeared, and was again 

 visible on the ^^l^.- These dates have caused scientific men 

 much perplexity, because in latitude 76° North, the upper edge 

 of the sun ought to have ceased to be visible when the sun's 

 south declination in autumn became greater than 13°,^ and 

 to have again become visible when the declination again became 

 less than that figure ; that is so say, the sun ought to have 

 been seen for the last time at Barents' Ice Haven on the "-^th 



1 On tlie assumption of a horizontal refraction of about 45'. 



