150 FARTHEST XORTH 



this was too much for us we walked up and down to 

 keep ourselves warm, and ate our food as we walked. 

 Then came the no less bitter task of disentangling the 

 dogs' traces, and we were glad when we could get off 

 again. In the afternoon, as a rule, we each had a piece 

 of meat-chocolate. 



Most Arctic travellers who have gone sledge journeys 

 have complained of the so-called Arctic thirst, and it has 

 been considered an almost unavoidable evil in connection 

 with a long journey across wastes of snow. It is often 

 increased, too, by the eating of snow. I had prepared 

 myself for this thirst, from which we had also suffered 

 severely when crossing Greenland, and had taken with 

 me a couple of india-rubber flasks, which we filled with 

 water every morning from the cooker, and which by 

 carrying in the breast could be protected from the cold. 

 To mv ijreat astonishment, however, I soon discovered 

 that the whole dav would often pass by without my as 

 much as tasting the water in mv flask. As time went bv, 

 the less need did I feel to drink during the day, and at last 

 I gave up taking water with me altogether. If a passing 

 feeling of thirst made itself felt, a piece of fresh ice, of 

 which, as a rule, there was always some to be found, was 

 sufficient to dispel it.* The reason why we were spared 



* Whereas eating snow may increase the above-mentioned feeling of 

 thirst, and have disagreeable consequences in other ways, sucking a piece 

 of ice, which will soon quench it, may safely be resorted to, particularly if 

 it be held in the hand a little while before putting it in the mouth. Many 

 travellers have, no doubt, had the same experience. 



