INTRODUCTION. 



suitable shelter was also erected for the thermometers. These, which were mostly- 

 filled with spirits of wine, were in part a present from Mr. Tagliabue, of New York 

 They were observed, with the other instruments, each hour during the whole 

 twenty-four every seventh day, and three times a day in the interval. In addition 

 to these observations, the temperature was noted every second hour by a thermo- 

 meter suspended from a pole on the ice. 



In the autumn, Dr. Hayes, in connection with Mr. Sonntag, made a survey of a 

 glacier which had been named by Dr. Kane "My Brother John's Glacier," and 

 which is in a valley near the head of the bay in which the vessel was wintered. It 

 was nearly two miles from the sea, which it is gradually approaching; and in order 

 to determine its rate of progress, a base line was measured along its axis, from 

 either end of which angles were taken to fixed objects on the mountain on each 

 side. These measurements were repeated after an interval of eight months, and 

 the result indicated a downward movement of ninety-four feet. 



The sun was absent one hundred and thirty days, and during that long period of 

 darkness the whole party enjoyed remarkably good health. This was in a great 

 measure due to habits of regularity as to exercise and cleanliness enjoined on every 

 member of the expedition, as well as to the abundant supply of fresh food. With 

 the advance of winter, however, there came a serious misfortune, which almost 

 paralyzed further efibrt; a disease which for several years had prevailed throughout 

 Greenland broke out among the dogs, and before the middle of December the 

 number of the pack was reduced to eleven. As the plan of extending the explora- 

 tion was based on the use of these animals, it was absolutely necessary, at whatever 

 cost of labor or expense of means, to obtain another supply, and for this purpose 

 Mr. Sonntag volunteered to venture on a journey across the ice to a settlement of 

 Esquimaux on the other side of Whale Sound. He started on this perilous enter- 

 prise on the 22d of December, accompanied by a young Esquimaux, and furnished 

 with a sled drawn by nine dogs. In attempting to cross a wide crack in the ice 

 which had but lately been frozen over, he feU in, was thoroughly wetted, and, before 

 he could reach a place of shelter, was so chiUed as to become insensible, and he died 

 soon after. This event, which cast a profound gloom over the whole party, was a 

 great loss to science. Mr. Sonntag had received a thorough mathematical educa- 

 tion, was well trained in the use of instruments of precision, and, had his life been 

 spared, would have extended the series of observations, and would have thus added 

 to the value of the materials obtained. Fortunately he had completed the pendulum 

 experiments, the principal astronomical determinations, commenced the magnetic 

 and meteorological observations, and trained the assistants in the use of instru- 

 ments. After his death, the observations were continued, under the immediate 

 direction of the commander, by Mr. Radcliff, assisted by Mr. Starr and Mr. Knorr. 



Having, in the spring, obtained from a band of Esquimaux which visited the vessel 

 a new supply of dogs, some of which also died, leaving but two teams of seven 

 each, a journey was made to establish a depot of provisions at the north, for use 

 during the contemplated explorations in the opening of summer. Upon this occa- 

 sion. Van Rensselaer Harbor, the winter-quarters of Dr. Kane, was visited, but no 



