NANSEN'S EXPEDITION (1894) 213 



incorrect : he had presupposed a shallow Polar Sea in 

 which all currents would have a strong influence. Instead 

 of this, it was found in latitude 79° that with a line of 

 1000 fathoms the bottom could not be reached. The 

 greatest depth hitherto found in these regions was 80 

 fathoms. 



It was not until the 1st of February 1894 that the 80th 

 degree of latitude was reached. On the 6th of April a 

 remarkable event took place, which had been looked 

 forward to with lively interest. It was an eclipse of the 

 sun. Hansen, who had charge of the astronomical ob- 

 servations, calculated that the eclipse would begin at 

 12.56. It really was seen to begin 7 J seconds later than 

 the time calculated. This proved the chronometers to 

 be in excellent order. Four bears made their appearance 

 on 8th April ; none had been seen during the three 

 previous months. The 81st degree of latitude was 

 reached about 17th May 1894, and the 82nd not until 

 the 31st October 1894. 



On the 5th of November a curious incident happened, 

 and is worth mentioning. One of the young dogs was 

 heard howling fearfully on deck. It was found to have 

 touched an iron bolt with its tongue, and was frozen fast 

 to it. The poor beast was straining to get free, with its 

 tongue stretched out so far that it looked like a thin rope 

 proceeding out of its throat. The bolt was heated by 

 means of the hand, and the puppy then managed to get 

 the tongue free. 



On 16th November, Nansen elaborated his plan for the 

 sledge-journey towards the Pole in the spring of 1895. 

 He made his calculations from the 83rd degree of latitude, 

 and he expected that the Fram would reach a higher lati- 

 tude than this. The distance to the Pole from this latitude 

 is 483 English miles. Nansen thought it reasonable to 

 expect that this distance could be covered in fifty days, 



