18 INTRODUCTION. 



hope expressed that it would be followed by rich results. 

 It was then decided by the committee that the expedition 

 should sail from Bremerhaven on the 15th of June at noon. 

 A telegram addressed to Captain Koldewey confirmed the 

 interest which King William had already shown in the 

 undertaking, stating that on the 15th he would be in Bre- 

 merhaven and Geestemiinde. All was then to be prepared 

 for the king's visit and for immediate departure. An elabo- 

 rate form was drawn up by Dr. Petermann on the 7th of 

 June under the title of " Instructions for the Second 

 German Arctic Expedition of 1869-70." On all the chief 

 points both captains and scientific men were agreed, 

 though some seemed to require earnest consideration ; 

 but there was now no time for further discussions. How- 

 ever, they agreed to make some unimportant alterations 

 regarding the ofiicial reports of the expedition, and the 

 ownership of the notes made by the scientific members 

 during the voyage, as well as regarding the form and 

 address of any communications to be sent home. They 

 were all to be sent to Dr. Petermann. On the return of the 

 expedition a preliminary report was to be drawn up, and 

 the whole given up to a commission composed of the 

 captains and scientific men belonging to the expedition, 

 and the supporters and leaders of the undertaking, as well 

 as scientific authorities. Dr. Petermann informed them 

 of his agreement to these alterations by telegraph. 



The most important part of the proceedings of the 

 joint committee lay in the last consultation, namely, how 

 and when tidings of the men belonging to the expedition 

 were to be gained in case their return should be too long- 

 delayed, and they should require assistance, or if their 

 death should take place on the ice-fields of Greenland. 

 It was resolved : — 



