158 THE GERMAN ARf'TK! EXPEDITION. 



chronometer, lorn. 30. Gs., giving the longitude 43° 10.1' 



W. According to Graah's chart, however, it should be 



42° 20' W., resulting in an error in the latter of about 



50m. ^ A later comparison of our chronometer with that 



of the royal Danish brig Constance, gave an error to us 



of — 35.4s., whereby our longitudinal observation would 



require nine minutes more. The first night with great 



exertion we advanced 530 paces ; seven a.m. fall of snow ; 



rested until eight p.m. Mr. Hildebrandt and Max had a 



severe attack of snow-blindness, and were obliged to remain 



quiet in the boat while we pulled it. We were doubtful 



whether it would not be better to leave the heavy boat 



Kinof William behind, but we still drao-o-ed it on with 



us, as we hoped to find it of great use on our journey by 



water. 



The 28th was a clear day. We were able to dry our 



things once more, and find a path for our dragging the next 



night. By seven a.m. we had gained 700 paces, when it 



again began to snow. Dragging is fearfully tiring work, 



and makes but slow progress, particularly when the boats 



have to be hauled now over high lumps of ice, now over 



places where the water is only covered with loose snow, 



on which occasions it does not give merely wet feet, but 



an entire bath. Dr. Laube is very fortunate that way. 



I have but one pair of boots, which are so torn with the 



ice, that the water runs unhindered in and out. Having 



once reached our goal, stockings and shoes are off at 



once, and the naked feet put into the fur sleeping-sack, 



where they soon get warm. Fortunately, each of us has 



* It must not be forgotten that Graali's clironoinetcr at that time 

 had become useless. (Graah, Narrative, &c., English Translation, 

 p. 65.) 



