124 FARTHEST NORTH 



working sights were : a small, light theodolite, specially 

 constructed for the purpose, which, with its case (this I 

 had also had made to act as a stand) only weighed a 

 little over two pounds. We had, furthermore, a pocket 

 sextant and an artificial glass horizon, a light azimuth 

 compass of aluminium, and a couple of other compasses. 

 For the meteorological observations we had a couple of 

 aneroid barometers, two minimum spirit- thermometers 

 and three quicksilver sling- thermometers. In addition 

 to these, we had a good aluminium telescope, and also a 

 photographic camera. 



The most difificult, but also, perhaps, the most im- 

 portant, point in the equipment of a sledge expedition 

 is thoroughly good and adequate vicUialling. I have 

 already mentioned, in the Introduction to this book, that 

 the first and foremost object is to protect one's self 

 against scurvy and other maladies by the choice of foods, 

 which, through careful preparation and sterilization, are 

 assured against decomposition. On a sledge expedition 

 of this kind, where so much attention must be paid to 

 the weight of the equipment, it is hardly possible to take 

 any kinds of provisions, except those of which the weight 

 has been reduced as much as possible by careful and 

 complete drying. As, however, meat and fish are not so 

 easily digested when dried, it is no unimportant thing to 

 have them in a pulverized form. The dried food is, in 

 this manner, so finely distributed that it can with equal 

 facility be digested and received into the organism. 



