Remarks on the Observations. 



Technical Features. 



THE instrument used for observations throughout the expedition was 

 the „Kleinster Reise-Theodoht" made by Hildebrand of Freiburg 

 in Saxony. In addition to the usual features of make and finish, the 

 solidity and precision of which have been appreciated by so many ex- 

 plorers, the instrument was furnished with ebonite tops to all screws, 

 so that in working with bare hands at low temperatures, the fingers 

 were not constantly brought into contact with the naked metal. The 

 instrument case was, moreover, so constructed as to furnish a stand for 

 the theodolite itself. By this simple device, the instrument is no longer 

 rendered useless by loss or breakage of the tripod stand, which last 

 accident actually happened to me, one of the legs breaking just above 

 the point. 



The tripod stand in its present form is, as a matter of fact, the 

 weak point of the theodolite. In our case, we were, as it happened, able 

 to repair the damage on the journey; I have seen the same accident 

 happen before, however, with the instruments which Mylius Erichsen 

 carried on the Danmark Expedition. In pressing the legs of the tripod 

 down into the ground, a breakage may easily occur just above the point, 

 the wood not being strong enough to stand the hard usage to which it 

 is frequently subjected. A tripod of stouter build, on the other hand, 

 would obviously involve increased weight. Might it not be better to 

 employ a telescopic tripod made of metal tubes, even though this 

 could perhaps, when exposed to the rays of the sun, occasion some dis- 

 turbance of the libella now and then? While on the inland ice I fre- 

 quently felt the want of a few loose plates on which to place the tripod. 

 The pointed ferules of the feet often rendered it difficult or impossible 

 to fix the legs firmly, even when pressed far down into the loose snow, 

 which moreover involved the inconvenience of stooping low over the 

 instrument when making observations. In camp, I managed better by 

 placing each foot of the tripod upon a piece of dogs' meat — great pieces 

 of walrus hide or musk ox — which gave a firm support. On the march 

 however, this could only be done by unpacking at least one of the sledges 

 entirely. Moreover, if one takes the precaution to tread out a firm patch 

 in the snow before setting up the tripod, one may frequently, in walking 

 about the spot during observation, cause a large part of the surface to 

 cave in, thus bringing the instrument out of position. Most explorers 



