CHAPTER VI. 



PilEPAEATIONS FOR WINTERING. 13tH SEPTEMBER TO 

 7th NOVEMBER, 1869.' 



HiinUng. — Supplying the ship with water for the winter. — Forewarn- 

 ing.^ of winter. — Frost. — Habits of birds of passage. — Return of 

 the discoverers of the Fligely Fjord. — Laying up of the ship for 

 the winter. — State of the Germania's winter harbour. — Need of a 

 good harbour for Arctic wintering. — Heaving up anchor. — Laying 

 up of the ship. — Evening on the ice. — Skating. — Securing the hull 

 against the winter cold. — Wall of ice-blocks round the ship. — Fine 

 autumnal weather. — Storm. — Sun disappears the 6th November. — 

 Vegetation. — Scurvy-grass. — Visit from a bear. — A bear-hunter. — 

 A black fox. — Di*edging. 



The Germania, as we have seen, had anchored once more 

 under Sabine Island on the 13th of September ; having 

 thus performed a voyage of five weeks and a half; a 

 space of time in which much might be done with steam, 

 if only one had open water ; instead of which we could 

 only run along the coast by small stretches, as both in 

 the north and the south, and also in the creeks to west- 

 ward, solid masses of ice met the ship, which it was 

 impossible to overcome. Attempts had therefore to be 

 made to explore the land, independently of the ship. 

 Accordingly, on the following day, the 14th, a journey 

 was undertaken to Falsche Bay. 



' By Dr. Pansch. 



