72 FARTHEST NORTH 



petroleum, as well as 20 tons of common kerosene,* in- 

 tended to be used along with coal in the boiler, was stored 

 in massive iron tanks, eight of which were in the hold, 

 and one on deck. In all, the ship had eight boats, two 

 of which were especially large, 29 feet long and 9 feet 

 wide. These were intended for use in case the ship 

 should, after all, be lost, the idea beingr that we should 

 live in them while drifting in the ice. They were large 

 enough to accommodate the whole ship's company with 

 provisions for many months. Then there were four 

 smaller boats of the form sealers generally use. They 

 were exceedingly strong and lightly built, two of oak and 

 two of elm. The seventh boat was a small pram, and the 

 eighth a launch with a petroleum engine, which, however, 

 was not very serviceable, and caused us a great deal of 

 trouble. 



As I shall have frequent occasion later on to speak of 

 other details of our equipment, I shall content myself 

 here with mentioning a few of the most important. 



Special attention was, of course, devoted to our com- 

 missariat with a view to obviating the danger of scurvy 

 and other ailments. The principle on which I acted in 



* This oil, by means of a specially constructed steam-jet apparatus, was 

 injected into the furnaces in the form of a tine spray, where it burned in a 

 very economical and saving manner, giving forth a great amount of heat. 

 The apparatus was one which has been applied to locomotives in England, 

 whence it was procured. It appeared, however, that it tended to overheat 

 the boiler at one particular point, where it made a dent, so that we soon 

 abandoned this method of firing. 



