ITALIAN EXPEDITION (1900) 273 



week's toil had therefore been in vain. This made Caa;ni 

 come to the wise decision to give up fighting against the 

 drift, and to proceed southwards, where he would probably 

 reach islands from which he would have a better chance 

 of reaching Prince Rudolf Island. 



On the second day after setting out to the south, land 

 was sighted, and turned out to be Harley Island. On the 

 10th the party found it necessary to begin eating dog's 

 flesh. The coast of Harley Island was reached on 13th 

 June, but still they kept to the ice, and followed the coast 

 until they reached the north-west extremity of the island. 

 They then steered for Ommaney Island, where they arrived 

 at midnight on the 13th. This island was crossed, but 

 on attempting to leave it the ice was found impracticable, 

 and twice the party were forced to retrace their steps. 

 The third attempt was successful, after great labour among 

 moving ice. A broad channel was found open along Karl 

 Alexander Land, and Cagni therefore steered a course in 

 the direction of Cape Germania. 



When they awoke on the morning of the 20th June, 

 they found thev were afloat on a floe about 60 yards in 

 diameter. Here they had to remain two days at the 

 mercy of the wind. Prince Rudolf Island was reached 

 on the 23rd June, and the party arrived at the tent at 

 Teplitz Bay on the same date. 



This sledge-journey by Cagni is the longest ever 

 made over the ice of the Arctic Ocean before that of 

 Dr. Cook. Starting from a comparatively low latitude, 

 he yet was able to surpass the record made by Nansen. 

 He had, of course, advantages which Nansen did not 

 possess : he had a base to fall back upon, and he had the 

 assistance of other two detachments ; but on the other 

 hand he had to start from a much lower latitude. The 

 achievement of the Italians is one of which any country 

 might be proud. 

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