CELEBRATION OF CHRISTMAS. 387 



miles ^) per hour, and if it had continued straight in a 

 southerly direction, this storm would not only have reached 

 the equator, but have gone far beyond it even to the lati- 

 tude of the south point of Africa ; thus traversing more 

 than a quarter of the earth's circumference. Another 

 peculiarity of this storm was, that, contrary to the 

 sudden rising of the former, it seemed to increase by long 

 preparatory stages. The barometer fell slowly, though 

 not unusually low. The sky, too, at the beginning was 

 perfectly clear ; but most striking was the fact that the 

 temperature remained low, —4° to —11° Fahr., until the 

 end of the storm, when it rose by degrees. 



The 21st of December, as has been said, was a mag- 

 netic period. The astronomers had prepared the room 

 and the instruments at the right time, and the twenty- 

 four hours of minute observation began. Two hours' 

 relief was allowed. The going backwards and forwards, 

 the eating and drinking through the night, and the hot 

 can of coffee on the stove all night was a welcome change 

 from the uniformity of our life. 



Thus Christmas-time drew near. That the beautiful 

 festival should be kept was understood, small gifts 

 being prepared on all sides for the purpose. We were 

 the first Germans who had wintered here, and so it was 

 clear to all that the Christmas-tree must not be wanting 

 on the Germania. This was an unavailing wish, for fir- 

 trees do not grow in Greenland. But Nature seemed to 

 take pity on us in our distress ; sparing as her growth 

 is, she offered us a helping hand and some fresh green 

 for our Christmas-tree. The stalks of the Andromeda 



^ By these must be understood German geographical miles, each of 

 which is equal to onc-fiftecnth of a degree. — Ti-. 



c c 2 



