June i6, 1904] 



NA TURE 



15: 



" A few days after our return from the first Norwegian 

 Polnr Expedition, we were lying in Lysaker Bay unloading 

 the h'ram when Ur. Nansen came on board. ' Do you still 

 wish to go on another expedition to the North? ' he asked 

 me.' ' Ves, certainly,' 1 answered, 'if only I had the 

 chance.' He then told me that Consul Axel Heiberg,' and 

 the firm of brewers Messrs. Ringues Brothers,' were 

 willing to equip a new scientific expedition with myself 

 as leader." 



The Norwegian Government, realising the value of 

 the work it was proposed to carry out, in a truly 

 patriotic spirit well worthy of emulation, placed the 

 Fram at the disposal of the promoters of the enterprise, 

 and generously added the sum of iioo/. to assist in 

 defraying the cost of the expedition. The main object 

 was the exploration of the north coast of Greenland 

 by way of Smith Sound and Robeson Channel, in 

 fact, to follow in the footsteps of Nares's expedition 



days in the Atlantic, when somewhat stormy weather 

 was encountered, is thus jocosely alluded to by the 

 author :— 



" The members of the expedition, who were not much 

 used to the sea, turned very white, and looked extremely 

 serious. They trooped to the doctor and complained of 

 various symptoms ; some had headache, some shivering 

 fits, and some pains in the stomach, which they had con- 

 tracted, they knew not how ; but none of them mentioned 

 the malady by its right name. The doctor, however, came 

 to the conclusion that the complaint with the many different 

 aspects, had a single and fairly simple name, to wit, sea 

 sickness ; and for it there was but one and an equally 

 simple remedy, dry land. Unhappily we had forgotten to 

 bring any with us in our otherwise so well equipped Ex- 

 pedition, but it was hoped it might be found somewhere 

 north in the .Arctic Ocean, and this appeared to console 

 the sufferers." 



-Sledging expedilion re.idy to start. .Spring, 1901. Fr( 



' New Land," by Otto Sverdrup. 



in 1S75 ; on reaching the highest point attained by 

 our countrymen on the north coast of Greenland, the 

 explorers were to continue along the coast, and as 

 far to the east as it was possible to reach — in other 

 words, to determine by actual exploration the insularity 

 of Greenland. 



There was to be no question of trying to reach the 

 North Pole! 



In the event of unforeseen diflficulties interfering 

 with the successful accomplishment of this project, 

 Captain Sverdrup was at liberty to use his own judg- 

 ment and discretion in formulating a revised pro- 

 gramme that would, in his opinion, be the best to 

 further the interests of geographical e.xploration and 

 other scientific investigations. 



The liveliness of the little Fram during the first few 



1 These eentlemen had contributed largely in assisting to defray the 

 expenses of Nansen's expedition ! 



NO. 1807, VOL. 70] 



Time, however, as is usual in similar cases, soon 

 restored the ailing ones to their customary health and 

 the free use of their sea-legs ! The complement of the 

 little ship was, exclusive of the captain, only fifteen 

 souls. In this small number was included two deck 

 officers, a doctor, cartographer (who, by the way, was 

 a cavalry officer), botanist, geologist, zoologist, two 

 engineers, a steward, and four others who made them- 

 selves generally useful in carn'ing out anv duties that 

 might at any time be apportioned to them. All, it is 

 almost unnecessary to add, assisted in the working of 

 the ship when at sea or in the ice. 



On reaching Smith Sound, their further progress 

 north was effectively barred by an impenetrable ice 

 pack. .After several unsuccessful attempts to push 

 through, they were at length compelled to go into 

 winter quarters, on the west side of Smith Sound, 

 not very far from its entrance, in a small partially 



