450 THE GERMAN ARCTIC EXPEDITION. 



Kuhn Island, formed a most interesting object of investi- 

 gation, and that at no great distance. But above all things 

 speed was indispensable ; for had we not in prospect the 

 dreadful state of the snowy waste which must inevitably 

 attend the rapid thaw of an Arctic midsummer ? 



After ten days' rest those who had been suffering from 

 dysentery, cramp, and rheumatism (the effects of the pre- 

 vious journey), had somewhat recovered ; a further reason 

 for avoiding longer delay, although we were unfortunately 

 obliged to leave Klentzer and our brave Ellinger behind. 



The hope of finding the ice in Fligely Fjord free from 

 snow, as in the previous autumn, decided us in choosing 

 this road to Ardencaple Inlet. The dread of a repetition 

 of our late sufferings from want of food made us burden 

 ourselves with all we could take, but the dead- weight was 

 lightened as much as possible by the general sleeping- 

 sack being made of light woollen stuff, and by reducing 

 the size of the tent. 



Our weapons consisted of three breech-loaders and a 

 hundred cartridges; our instruments, of a theodolite, 

 aneroid, and thermometer. We also took thirty bottles 

 of spirits, sixty lbs. of melted walrus and bear's fat for 

 fuel, and nine bottles of ginger in a tin can. Our clothes 

 were lighter, as we had relieved ourselves of the fur. In 

 case the loosening of the coast ice should prevent our 

 reaching the ship, we laid down a provision depot at 

 Cape Berlin. 



Journeys at the end of the spring time are very dif- 

 ferent from those at the beginning. In the first instance, 

 one has to suffer from the frost, and in the second, from 

 the glowing summer heat, although in the shade the 

 thermometer is still l)olow freezing-point. Very trouble- 



