INTRODUCTION. 19 



"That tlie expedition should, on the coast or islands, 

 as nearly as possible under each degree of latitude or 

 longitude, build up a heap of stones, or some other 

 erection; that the burying of documents detailing the 

 events and condition of the undertaking should not be 

 within this sign, but at a distance of twenty metres 

 due north of it (not magnetic). And if from the 

 nature of the ground no such distance could be taken, 

 the documents were still to be deposited to the north- 

 ward. The monuments were, if possible, to be erected 

 on a declivity ; and as the Esquimaux greatly venerate all 

 graves, so, in case of death, tidings of the expedition were 

 to be placed under the body." At the same spot also all 

 notices of the German Arctic voyage were to be sought 

 if they themselves were unable to give information. This 

 decision was telegraphed to Dr. Petermann, who returned 

 his assent. 



Then followed a solemn oath taken by all those belong- 

 ing to the expedition ; the two captains, as well as the 

 scientific men, promising that both by word and deed, 

 and under all circumstances, they would strive with all 

 their might to reach the goal set before them. 



The instructions contained thirty-one paragraphs ; in 

 Sects. 1 and 2 the aim and object of the expedition was 

 declared to be the discovery and scientific investigation 

 of the Central Arctic region from 75° N.L. and up- 

 wards, taking the eastern coast of Greenland as a basis. 

 This object included two tasks : 1st, the solving of the 

 so-called Arctic question ; 2nd, the discovery, surveying, 

 and investigation of East Greenland ; thence northwards 

 towards Behring's Straits, including all intermediate 

 countries, islands, and stretch of sea; the measuring 



jj 2 



