INTRODUCTION 15 



From Nansen's Farthest North I borrow a 

 nearer view of these arctic lowlands. 



" In the evening we at last reached the islands, 

 and for the first time for two years had bare land 

 under foot. The delight was indescribable, and 

 was not lessened when, in a little sheltered corner 

 among the stones, we found beautiful poppies and 

 snowy saxifrages." 



