CHAPTER XVIII. 



RETURN TO BREMERHAVBN.' 



Repeated leakage of tlie boiler-tubes. — Becalmed. — Disappearance of 

 the Coast. — Dense fog. — Voyage in the ice. — The Germania forces 

 a passage through the ice. — The boiler finally refuses to work 

 altogethei'. — Perceptible sound of breakers in the open sea. — 

 Collision with an icebauk. — We reach the open sea. — Joy over 

 our speedy return homewards. — Passing by Iceland between the 

 Faroe and Shetland Islands. — Near Heligoland. — No pilots. — No 

 sail at the mouth of the Weser. — German men-of-war. — First know- 

 ledge of the German victories and of the fate of the Hansa. — 

 Salute by the crew of the King William on the safe return of the 

 Germania from the Arctic Sea. — Stearcer and pilots. — Arrival at 

 Bremerhaven on 11th of September, 1870. 



All was now ready for our return to Europe, and on tlie 

 16th of August our poor patched boiler was heated once 

 more, but as soon as steam was up more pipes began to 

 leak, and it was very doubtful whether it could be used 

 at all. One more trial, however, must be made ; in the 

 meantime, as there was no wind, we rode at anchor. 

 Calms seem to prevail here in the summer months. 

 During our year of observation, from the beginning of 

 1869 to the end of July, 1870, we noted no less than 

 2435 hours of total calm, 750 hours of which fell in the 

 summer months of June, July, and August, being the 

 third part of the whole time. 



' By Captain Carl Koldewey. 



