ITALIAN EXPEDITION (1900) 265 



With the beginning of the New Year the preparations 

 for the sledge-journey received most attention. The 

 daily ration was fixed at 2 lb. 12 oz. 9 dr., which was 

 about 3 oz. more than the weight used by Nares and 

 Greely. It consisted of biscuit, tinned meat, pemmican, 

 butter, milk, Liebig's extract, desiccated vegetables, 

 Italian paste, sugar, salt, coffee, tea, and onions. 



The lamps used were made on the Primus system, and 

 the cooking-stove was that designed by Nansen. The 

 quantity of petroleum was fixed at 3 oz. 8 dr. for each 

 man daily. The dog's ration of pemmican was 1 lb. 

 1 oz. 10 dr. 



The expedition carried flat-bottomed kayaks. These 

 had a framework of thin rods over which canvas was 

 stretched. Their greatest length was 11 ft. 7 in., their 

 width 2 ft. 6 in., and their height 11 in. They were 

 provided with a small sail, a pump to empty out water, 

 and a pair of oars with their rowlocks. 



The sledges were 11 ft. 5 in. long, 1 ft. 6 in. wide, and 

 6i inches high. The runners were slightly convex, so as 

 to turn easily ; they were shod with white metal, and 

 wooden runners were strapped beneath them. The fore- 

 most ends of the runners were joined by a bow, to which 

 the trace was attached, and no nails were used. Each sledge 

 was provided with a small steel rope, with as many rings as 

 there were dogs to tie them to, at a distance of 44 feet 

 from each other. 



On 18th January 1900 the Duke had nearly all the 

 first joint of the middle finger of his left hand amputated, 

 and ten days later a part of the fourth finger. This 

 rendered him quite unable to take any part in the sledge- 

 expedition, and Captain Cagni was given the command 

 of it. 



This expedition set out on 19th February. As open 

 water reached the mouth of the bay, it was found necessary 



