106 THE SIEGE OF THE NORTH POLE 



Cape Lookout, but each time the Isbjorn was driven back 

 by the current. 



Towards the middle of August the ice to the east of 

 Hope Island had cleared away, and on the 22nd August 

 76° 45' was reached, but contrary winds prevented a 

 higher latitude being attained. The course was again 

 set eastwards along the margin of the ice, and on the 31st 

 of August the latitude was 78° 30'. 



They had now arrived at J:he conclusion that the 

 Novaya Zemlva Sea was not filled with impenetrable ice, 

 as was generally supposed, but that it was probably open 

 every year up to 78°, and that the most favourable time 

 for navigation was towards the end of August. 



The Isbjorn returned to Tromsoe on 4th October. 



It was now considered desirable that a well-equipped 

 expedition should be dispatched to the Novaya Zemlva 

 seas, either to penetrate towards the north, or to attempt 

 the North-East Passage — hence the Austro-Hungarian 

 Expedition. 



The Tegettliqff, a vessel of 220 tons burden, was 

 fitted out for two and a half years. The engine was 

 of 100 horse-power, and the ship carried 130 tons of coal. 

 The officers and crew numbered twenty-four. Some spoke 

 German, some Italian, and others either Slavonic or 

 Hungarian. The command was twofold : Weyprecht 

 had charge of the ship, and Payer had command of the 

 sledge-expeditions. 



The Tegettliqff left Bremerhaven on the 13th of June 

 1872, and Tromsoe was reached on the 3rd of July. Here 

 they remained a week while the ship was overhauled and 

 repaired and the supply of coal replenished. Captain 

 Olaf Carlsen joined the ship as icemaster and harpooner. 

 He had deservedly gained fame through having circum- 

 navigated Spitzbergen and Novaya Zemlva. Tromsoe 

 was left on 13th July. 



