334 THE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



sea-breeze or the currents against the neighbouring open 

 coast, was sometimes followed by frightful results. 



This creek was named " Germania Harbour." Kolde- 

 wey would willingly have wintered farther north, in order 

 to have a more advanced starting-point for the sledge 

 journeys in the spring, but no safer harbour or anchorage 

 existed under Shannon Island or Klein-Pendulum ; and 

 we had cause to be thankful that we were not obliged to 

 seek shelter farther south, somewhere about Gael Ham- 

 kes Bay. 



On the 24th of September, the ship was brought to 

 the chosen spot, 300 paces from the western point of 

 land. For this purpose we had to cut a channel in the 

 now three-inch-thick ice. The cutting of the ice, and the 

 song of the sailors as they towed the ship along, sounded 

 cheerful on this fine winter morning ; and before noon 

 the work was completed. The Germania now lay for 

 290 days condemned to inactivity, with her bow N.N.W., 

 in order, as much as possible, to break the force of the 

 storm. 



The next morning the command, " Heave anchor ! " 

 sounding so peculiar to every voyager, was heard for the 

 last time, followed by the regular rattling of the wind- 

 lass. The anchor was stowed away on board, as we had 

 no further use for it ; and the ship, until it should freeze 

 in position, was made fast with ropes to the ice and the 

 neighbouring rock. 



She had now to be entirely unfitted, down to the lower 

 masts and the shrouds, and everything brought on land 

 that would not be required during the winter. Thus, on 

 one side, the ship was disburdened, and on the other we 

 gained considerable space both on deck and in the cabin. 



