AUGUST 15 TO JANUARY /, i8g6 665 



servations. Their building material consisted of great blocks of 

 new ice, which they piled upon sledges and drove with the aid 

 of the dogs to the site they had chosen. Except for one or two 

 trial trips which Scott-Hansen had previously made with the 

 dogs, this was the first time they had been employed as draught- 

 animals. They drew well, and the carting went excellently. The 

 house was built entirely of hewn blocks of ice, which were 

 ranged above each other with an inward slant, so that when 

 finished it formed a compact circular dome of ice, in form and 

 appearance not unlike a Finn tent. A covered passage of ice 

 led into the house, with a wooden flap for a door. 



When this observatory was finished, Scott-Hansen gave a 

 house-warming, the hut being magnificently decorated for the 

 occasion. It was furnished with a sofa, and with arm-chairs 

 covered with bear and reindeer skins. The pedestal in the 

 middle of the floor, on which the magnetic instruments were to 

 be established, was covered with a flag, and an ice-floe served as 

 a table. On the table stood a lamp with a red shade, and along 

 the walls were fixed a number of red paper lanterns. The effect 

 was quite festal, and we all sat round the room in the highest of 

 spirits. Our amiable host addressed little humorous speeches 

 to every one. Pettersen expressed the wish that this might be 

 the last ice-hut Scott-Hansen should build on this trip, and that 

 we might all be home again this time next autumn, and "none 

 the worse for it all." Pettersen's artless little address was re- 

 ceived with frantic enthusiasm. 



For the rest, Pettersen had just about this time entered 

 upon a new office, having from September loth onward under- 

 taken the whole charge of Juell's former domain, the galley, a 

 department to which he gave his whole heart, and in which his 

 performances denoted entire satisfaction to every one. The 

 only branch of the culinary art with which he would have 

 nothing to do was the baking of Christmas cakes. This Juell 

 himself had to attend to when the time came. 



When winter set in we built ourselves a new smithy in the 

 place of the one which drifted off on July 27th. It was con- 

 structed on the pressure-ridge where the boats and part of the 



