104 THE GERMAN AEOTIO EXPEDITION. 



the latter. On tliis framework the sail-cloth and matting 

 were nailed ; and in order to give this somewhat airy 

 bnildiug more solidity and firmness, snow was thrown 

 upon the top. A double door two feet and a half wide we 

 made on board ; the floor we filled in with coal blocks ; and 

 thus in seven days, namely on the 3rd of October, we began 

 to provide the finished house with provisions for two 

 months — about 400 lbs. of bread, two dozen tins of 

 preserved meat, a side of bacon, son^G coffee and brandy ; 

 afterwards fuel, and some boxes of coal. At the same 

 time the plank roofing, in case of wintering on board, 

 was erected. This wooden roof, covered mth felt, rested 

 on the one side on the mast and on the other on the 

 bulwarks. It reached fi^om the mainmast to the after 

 part of the ship. Amidships and to the fore, sails were 

 stretched. The whole work was favoured by fine weather 

 and a medium temperature of 20° to 9° Fahr. 



On the 7th the young ice broke in front of us once 

 more. The men were just busy sweeping the excellent 

 ekating-ground which they had found there, when a 

 peculiar rustling and a violent movement of the thick ice 

 betokened a storm from the north. Immediately it 

 bulged and burst, forcing up each floe on its edge. 

 This breaking up, heaving, and pressing, lasted about 

 an hour, during which we watched it from the safe 

 observatory of our field. 



On the 8th of October, shortly after the completion 

 of the coal-house, such bad weather set in, vrith drifting 

 snow, that would have made the continuation of it perfectly 

 impossible, and in five days have completely destroyed 

 both house and ship. On the middle and after part of 

 the deck such drifts of snow had collected that it was 



