CHAPTER IX. 



FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR 1870.' 



Lethargy. — The Arctic winter. — Mid-day twilight. — Meteorological 

 observations. -^Plans for spring travelling. — Fur dresses. — Klentzer 

 pursued by a bear. — The ship on fire. — Snowdrift. — Promise of 

 the sun's reappearance. — Sunrise on 3rd February. — Northern 

 Lights. — Hunting.— The days lengthen. — Low temperature. — 

 Spring-tide. — The ship aground. — Borgen wounded by a bear. 



The new year had now begun, and we had greeted it with 

 new thoughts, new plans and hopes. Nearly six months had 

 we already spent on the coast — a short time judging from 

 results — but long enough, with the help of the experience 

 gained, to prepare for the promised excursions in the 

 coming summer. Half of the dreaded Arctic night was 

 over, without either body or mind being materially in- 

 fluenced by it ; and if the coldest time still lay before us, 

 it had lost its terrors. 



The holidays were faithfully kept as a period of rest. 

 The whole of us experienced great weariness, and, upon 

 giving way to it, we could plainly see, what every one 

 knew long since, that in Arctic regions one can take any 

 amount of sleep. 



On the other hand, everything went on regularly. A 



' By Dr. Pansch. 



