14 INTRODUCTTON. 



assistant to Professor Hochstetter, in Vienna, who re- 

 commended him warmly for the expedition. 



The Germania, the chief ship of the expedition, was laid 

 on the slips for building on the 10th of March, 1869, by 

 Joh. C. Tecklenborg, of Bremerhaven, and was launched 

 on the 16th of April. On the 9th of May, Captain 

 Koldewey and Dr. Petermann went on board, accom- 

 panied by various members of the Bremen Committee, the 

 director of the North German Marino Observatory, W. v. 

 Freeden, and other friends (amongst whom were several 

 experienced seamen). The ship was thoroughly inspected 

 in all parts. W. v. Freeden's report of this inspection, 

 will form the best description of the ship. He says, 

 that upon measuring the Germania she was ninety feet 

 long, twenty-two and a half broad, eleven feet deep, and 

 143 tons burden : this size, a few years ago, was con- 

 sidered the highest standard for the best West Indian 

 fruit or Brazilian coffee schooners. Of course the steamer 

 was built stronger than required for such purposes as 

 the above ; and the ordinary planking was coated with a 

 hand-thick sheathing, thus protecting the stem, and in 

 a ship of 600 tons undiscernible below the water-line. 

 Over this iron sheathing, which is bolted and riveted, 

 not simply nailed on, is fastened a layer of sheet-iron. 

 Thus double provision was made in order that the ice 

 fretting at the ship's sides should not force the oakum 

 out of the seams, so causing a leakage. Over the iron 

 sheathing, by the bow, heavy iron rods were laid cross- 

 ways, close together. Notwithstanding this armour, the 

 ship's lines were pleasing to the eye, and, on account of 

 her sharp build, she proved an excellent sailer. 



In the interior also, the strength of her build was 



