486 FARTHEST NORTH 



succeeded by a thundering salute, consisting of six shots, 

 the result of which was that five or six of the dogs 

 rushed off over hummocks and pressure - ridges, and 

 hid themselves for several hours. Meanwhile we went 

 down into the cozy cabin, decorated with flags for the 

 occasion in a right festive manner, where we partook of 

 a splendid dinner, preluded by a lovely waltz. The 

 ineniL was as follows : Minced fish with curried lobster, 

 melted butter, and potatoes; music; pork cutlets, with 

 green pease, potatoes, mango chutne}', and Worcester 

 sauce ; music ; apricots and custard, with cream ; much 

 music. After this a siesta ; then coffee, currants, figs, 

 cakes ; and the photographer stood cigars. Great en- 

 thusiasm, then more siesta. After supper the violinist, 

 Mogstad, gave a recital, when refreshments were served 

 in the shape of figs, sweetmeats, apricots, and ginger- 

 bread (honey cakes). On the whole, a charming and 

 very successful Seventeenth of May, especially consid- 

 ering that we had passed the 8ist degree of latitude. 



" Monday, May 28th. Ugh ! I am tired of these 

 endless, white plains — cannot even be bothered snow^- 

 shoeing over them, not to mention that the lanes stop 

 one on every hand. Day and night I pace up and 

 down the deck, along the ice by the ship's sides, revolv- 

 ing the most elaborate scientific problems. For the past 

 few days it is especially the shifting of the Pole that 

 has fascinated me. I am beset by the idea that the 

 tidal wave, along with the unequal distribution of land 



