100 NEW LAND. 



During the afternoon the other party returned from Beitstad- 

 fjord. They seemed to have had weather still colder than our- 

 selves. Inside their tent it had snowed the whole time, in spite of 

 everything they did to prevent it ; and when they stood on the 

 snow outside, it seemed to be burning the soles of their feet. 

 They, too, had had no sport. 



The next day we drove back to the ship. In Alexandra Fjord 

 we caught a glimpse of the sun for the first time that year, and we 

 all burst out, as if ^t command, into a ringing cheer. We got on 

 board the ' Fram ' again that evening. 



The first week in March Schei began to equip for another trip 

 northward, for the purpose of discovering if there were any large 

 glaciers along the coast of Ellesmere Land, on the way up to Cape 

 Hawks. His first object was Bache Peninsula, but he hoped to get 

 as far as Dobbin Bay. As I would not expend much patent food 

 on the dogs that first winter, but fed them chiefly on biscuit and 

 stock-fish, we thought it best to make a depot of dog-food on or 

 near Bache Peninsula. 



On March 7, Schei, Stolz, and Hassel started off, each driving 

 his team. They had been given out 'finsko,' over-socks, and 

 ' mudds.' The temperature was still very low, and near the ship 

 it averaged from -40 to -44 Fahr. (-40 -42 Cent.). 



After four days' absence they returned, having made a depot of 

 fish on Bache Peninsula. Schei unfortunately came back with 

 several of his toes so badly frozen that three on one foot and two 

 on the other had to be taken off; the amputation was successful, 

 and he was laid up for only about a month. The reason for this 

 misfortune was that, instead of ' finsko,' he had worn ' komager,' * 

 which, though thoroughly adapted for use with ' ski ' at an 

 ordinary temperature, must be condemned out of hand in severe 

 cold. 



* The summer boot of the Lapp. These, unlike the reindeer skin ' finsko,' are 

 made of soft leather, in such a manner that the sole is turned up at the sides 

 and at the toe, and sewn to the upper leather on the upper surface of the foot. 

 Their counterpart, with the addition of an extra sole, known as lauparfJco, are in 

 use among Norwegian sltUtibere. 



