NANSEN'S EXPEDITION (1893) 211 



one side to the Atlantic Ocean on the other. A 

 " throwing-stick " used by the Alaskan Eskimo in hurling 

 their bird-darts had been found among the drift-timber 

 on the west coast of Greenland. It was also known that 

 the driftwood that is carried down by the polar current 

 along the east coast of Greenland and up the west 

 coast consists largely of wood from the coast of 

 Siberia. 



After discussing the various possible routes by which 

 this drift might take place, Dr. Nansen came to the 

 conclusion that a current flows at some point between 

 the Pole and Franz-Josef Land from the Siberian Arctic 

 Sea to the east coast of Greenland. 



Nansen 's plan was to build a ship as strong as possible, 

 so as to enable it to withstand the pressure of the ice. 

 The sides were to slope sufficiently to prevent the ice, 

 when it presses together, from getting firm hold of the 

 hull, as was the case with the Jeannette and other vessels. 

 Nansen's idea was that the ice, instead of nipping the ship, 

 must raise it out of the water. 



The Fra/m was built on the principles suggested by 

 Nansen : its sides were from 24 to 28 inches in thickness, 

 of solid water-tight wood. The inside of the ship was 

 also shored up and strengthened in every possible wav. 

 The equipment was of the best, and special attention was 

 devoted to the commissariat ; most of the provisions were 

 soldered down in tins, as a protection against damp. 



The members of the expedition numbered thirteen. 

 Several places were visited in passing up the coast of 

 Norway, and the party received a great reception. 

 Norway was left at Vardo ; and about four days after- 

 wards, on the 27th July 1893, ice was met with. 



It was Nansen's intention to pass through Yugor Strait 

 and make his way along the coast until he reached the 

 New Siberian Islands, and then up the west coast of these 



