INTRODUCTION 9 



as well inside as outside. New cabins and a new forecastle 

 were built, the sky-lights were extended, and a sheeting of hard 

 wood was placed from 2 feet above to 3 feet below the water 

 line. The rigging was likewise completely overhauled under 

 the able supervision of Captain Buckholz, and on the loth of 

 May the ship was renamed by Mrs. Nantes in the presence of 

 the members of the Provin- 

 cial Government and many 

 others. We were all very 

 well pleased with the vessel, 

 which, however, had one 

 drawback the absolute want 

 of any mechanical means of 

 progress, as the instalment 

 of a motor was too expen- 

 sive. We thought that we 

 could manage without it, but 

 many times afterwards I was 

 sorry that we had no motor 

 or motor boat. 



On May n we commenced 

 to take in coals and supplies. 

 It was a tight fit, but we 



EJNAR DITLEVSEN. 



managed to get everything 



down below deck which might be hurt by exposure to rain, etc., 



and on May 21 we were ready for sea. 



The expenses of the expedition had risen considerably above 

 our calculations and amounted in all to $26,400, including the 

 wages paid to the crew on their return, of which Mr. Leffingwell 

 contributed $10,000. 



This additional expenditure was due to the fact that we were 

 forced to provide a ship of our own, and also to take a larger 

 number of men than at first intended, men who were to have 

 wages as well as to be fed and clothed. We were in all nine 

 members of the expedition. 



Mr. Ernest de K. Leffingwell, my friend and joint commander, 

 had charge of the scientific work in general, but, being a trained 

 geologist, he devoted much of his time to geological researches. 

 He took numerous astronomical observations at our winter 

 quarters and surveyed large tracts of the coast as well as 



