CHAPTER I. 



VOYAGE OF THE GEiiMANIA AND HANSA EROM THE 15TfI JUNE 

 TO THE 4th JULY, 1869. 



First evening at sea. — Life on board. — The first storm. — Cabin life. — 

 In 57° N.L. — Dutch fishing-boat. — Visits exchanged. — Fresh 

 storm and fog. — Entrance to the North Sea.— A clear night. — 

 Animal life. 



The departure of the expedition from Bremerliaven took 

 place on tlie 15th of June, 1869, in the presence of 

 his Majesty the King of Prussia, whose warm interest 

 in this great national undertaking showed itself in this 

 solemn hour in a manner never to be forgotten. Amongst 

 the numerous gentlemen in attendance on his Majesty 

 were his Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Mecklen- 

 burg Schwerin, Count Bismarck, the Minister of War 

 and Marine, von Roon, General von Moltke, and Vice- 

 Admiral Jachman. The ships lay at the entrance of the 

 new harbour just outside the sluice. The king having 

 been introduced to the scientific gentlemen and the com- 

 mander of the expedition, and having greeted them with a 

 hearty shake of the hand, the President of the Bremen 

 Committee, Herr A. G. Mosle, requested his Majesty's 

 permission to speak a few parting words; and in an 

 earnest and impressive manner the speaker referred to the 

 greatness and importance of the object, the self-denial, 

 difficulties, and dangers which lay before them, but 



