12 INTRODUCTION. 



foreign countries, and in 1865-67 studied astronomy 

 in Gottingen. Since 1867 he liad worked as voluntary- 

 assistant in tlie observatory of that place. In the spring 

 of 1869 Dr. Borgen and himself published jointly a large 

 astronomical work, together with " The History of Arctic 

 Winterings." In the present expedition they had under- 

 taken both astronomical and physical science as well as 

 geodesy. 



3rd. Julius Payer, first lieutenant of infantry in the Im- 

 perial Austrian army, twenty-seven years old, was born at 

 Teplitz, in Bohemia, where his father was captain of a regi- 

 ment of lancers. His education and training he received 

 in the Neustadt Military Academy, from which he received 

 his commission as an officer in the army in 1859, followed 

 by a garrison life in Mainz, Frankfort, Verona, Venice, and 

 Jagerndorf. In Verona, excited by the neighbourhood 

 of the Alps, Payer began his studies. There appeared 

 in Justus Perthes' Geographische MiUlieilungen several 

 scientific papers from his pen on the Gross-Glockner, 

 the Adamell group, and the Ortler Alps. Of his other 

 works, a treatise on the Bocca di Brenta is deserving of 

 mention. In 1866 Payer took part in the Italian war, 

 and received the cross of merit at Oustozza ; in 1868 

 he was recalled by the Minister of War and was 

 commissioned to the survey of the inhospitable region 

 of the mountainous district of Austria. The request 

 for leave to accompany the Arctic expedition was granted 

 most graciously by the Minister of War, together with a 

 supply of fire-arms, a considerable store of gunpowder, 

 and various scientific instruments. Payer joined the 

 expedition with the prestige of his previous reputation 

 for activity in the cause of science. 



