48 THE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



the northern Ruler went through the customary pro- 

 ceedings. I was soaped and shaved ; god Neptune was 

 most favourable to me ; he knows what good cigars are, 

 and has great respect for those to whom they belong. 

 Then came the christening, which in this case was not 

 applied to the head (as is usual), but to the throat and 

 stomach. Neptune put some questions to me through 

 his speaking-trumpet, desiring me to answer. I saw his 

 object, answered with a short ' Yes,' and then closed my 

 lips. The mischievous waterfall rattled over me, causing 

 universal merriment. They then took the bandage from 

 my eyes, that I might see my handsome face in the glass ; 

 but instead of a looking-glass, it was the combing of the 

 wooden hatchway, which with great gravity was held 

 before my face by the barber's assistant. I was now 

 absolved, and could laugh with the others, whilst seeing 

 my comrades obliged to go through the same course one 

 after the other." 



Universal grog on board both ships brought the time- 

 honoured and merry ceremony to a close. 



But with ever-growing impatience did we now long for 

 a nearer acquaintance with the ice. As we before men- 

 tioned, the favourable wind first met us outside the Arctic 

 circle. Later on it blew more faintly, though, on the 

 whole, keeping in the good quarter from the east, so that 

 on the morning of the 9tli of July we came in sight of 

 the island of Jan Mayen. 



The midnight hours had now grown visibly lighter; 

 even in the cabin we no longer wanted a lamp ; at twelve 

 o'clock at night we could read and write without difficulty. 

 The very first night we reached the latitude in which it 

 was possible to be seen, we wei'e allowed to enjoy the 



