IV 



that it has drawn admiration from the specialists who are now working it up. 

 I fear thatfvery few who look through the volumes in which these obser- 

 vations are printed, will be able fully to realize what an amount of mental 

 energy and endurance every page really represents. 



I also desire to mention specially Dr. H. G. BLESSING, who carried on 

 the physiological investigations on board, made the botanical collections, and 

 during the last two winters undertook the observations of the Aurora Borealis. 

 After my departure from the ship, he took charge of the oceanic researches, 

 the zoological collections, the observations of the ice, of the atmospheric elec- 

 tricity, etc. 



It is unnecessaiy to say that I remember with deep gratitude the work of 

 Captain OTTO SVERDRUP, who was master of the Fram, and the leader of 

 the expedition after March, 1895, and thus assisted in all branches of scientific 

 work; and last but not least my faithful companion on the sledge-journey, 

 Lieutenant HJALMAR JOHANSEN, who in every respect rendered me ardent 

 and valuable 'assistance in my endeavours to make such scientific obser- 

 vations as the often difficult circumstances of our long and lonely journey 

 would permit. 



There are many of the others, indeed, who also deserve to be mentioned 

 specially; but as this will be done later in the various Memoirs. I here beg 

 all my companions to accept my warmest thanks for their work, and the 

 way in which they all of them contributed to the Scientific Results of the 

 Expedition. I feel certain that it is with deep sorrow that we all miss two 

 excellent comrades amongst the number of the living, LARS PETTERSEN, 

 who died in 1898, in Hamburg, and BERNT BENTSEN, who died last winter, 

 on a new expedition in Franz Josef Land. 



It is only natural that at this moment I should also gratefully re- 

 member those men of high distinction who so largely assisted me in the 

 scientific equipment of the expedition. I may especially mention Prof. W. C. 

 BROGGER, Prof. H. GEELMUYDEN, Dr. JOHAN HJORT, Prof. W. C. MAC 

 INTOSH (St. Andrews), Prof. H. MOHN, Sir JOHN MURRAY (Edinburgh), 



