AUGUST 15 TO JANUARY /, iSg6 667 



and on November 20th I gave orders that every man should take 

 two hours' exercise a day in the fresh air. I myself was very 

 fond of these walks, which freshened up both soul and body, 

 and I often wandered backward and forward on the ice four or 

 five hours a day — as a rule, two hours in the morning and two in 

 the afternoon. 



On October 8th Scott-Hansen and Mogstad made an experi- 

 ment in dragging sledges with 230 pounds of freight. They 

 started at half-past nine and returned at five in the afternoon, 

 after having been about four miles from the ship, and traversed 

 pretty heavy country. 



We did not believe, indeed, that the Frani ran the slightest 

 risk of being crushed in any ice-pressure ; but it was obviously 

 possible, or at least conceivable, so that it was our duty to be pre- 

 pared for all contingencies. Accordingly we devoted much labor 

 and care to securing ourselves against being taken by surprise. 



At the end of October we established a new depot on the ice 

 consisting of provisions for six months, with a full equipment of 

 sledges, kayaks, snow-shoes, etc. The provisions were divided 

 into five different piles, and stacked so that the boxes in each 

 pile formed an arch. Thus stored, not more than two cases 

 could well be lost even if the worst happened, and the ice split 

 up right under the heap. The provisions consisted partly of 

 pemmican, as may be seen by the list quoted — a very nutritious 

 article of diet, which makes an excellent sort of Irish stew (lob- 

 scouse). With 200 grammes of pemmican, 100 grammes of bread, 

 and 120 grammes of potatoes you can make a very satisfying and 

 palatable dish. 



On November 28th we passed the sixtieth degree of longi- 

 tude, and celebrated the occasion by a little feast. The saloon 

 was decorated \\\t\\ flags, and a rather more sumptuous dinner 

 than usual was served, with coffee after it, while supper was fol- 

 lowed by a dessert of fruits and preserves. This meridian passes 

 near Cape Fligely in Franz Josef Land, and through Khabarova, 

 where we two years ago had bidden farewell to the last faint 

 traces of civilization. So it seemed as though we really felt our- 

 selves nearer the world and life. 



