PREPARATIONS AND EQUIPMENT 7^ 



sisting of several layers of wood with felt between, all 

 of which had to be passed through on going out. And 

 the more completely to exclude the cold air the thresholds 

 of the doors were made more than ordinarily high. On 

 the half-deck over the cook's galley, between the main- 

 mast and the funnel, was a chart-room facing the bow, 

 and a smaller work-room abaft. * 



In order to secure the safety of the ship in case of a 

 leak, the hold was divided into three compartments by 

 water-tight bulkheads. Besides the usual pumps, we had 

 a powerful centrifugal pump driven by the engine, which 

 could be connected with each of the three compartments. 

 It may be mentioned as an improvement on former expe- 

 ditions that the Fram was furnished with an electric 

 light installation. The dynamo was to be driven by the 

 engine while we were under steam ; while the intention 

 was to drive it partly by means of the wind, partly by 

 hand power, during our sojourn in the ice. For this 

 purpose we took a windmill with us, and also a " horse- 

 mill " to be worked by ourselves. I had anticipated that 

 this latter might have been useful in giving us exercise 

 in the long polar night. We found, however, that there 

 were plenty of other things to do, and we never used it ; 

 on the other hand, the windmill proved extremely ser- 

 viceable. For illumination when we might not have 

 enough power to produce electric light, we took with us 

 about 1 6 tons of petroleum, which was also intended for 

 cooking purposes and for warming the cabins. This 



